Xpeng Aeroht, the flying car subsidiary of Xpeng, announced plans to establish a dedicated factory in Guangzhou for the mass production of flying cars, moving from its previous trial plant.
The company signed an investment and cooperation agreement with Guangzhou development district authorities, outlining support for land use, financing, and flying car application scenarios, according to a press release.
The new facility will serve as a comprehensive center for research and development, manufacturing, and sales of flying cars. It aims to incorporate a modern assembly line, making it the world’s first factory capable of large-scale production of flying car components, starting with the flying body of its modular flying car.
Founded in 2013 and majority-owned by Guangzhou-based Xpeng and its CEO He Xiaopeng, Xpeng Aeroht gained attention with the X1, a vertically takeoff and landing (VTOL) vehicle unveiled at the Shanghai auto show in April 2021.
The company’s existing trial plant in Hualong town, Panyu district, Guangzhou, has facilitated pre-production activities and performance testing for its innovative flying car designs.
At a recent technology day event, Xpeng outlined its strategy for electric VTOL (eVTOL) and modular flying cars, highlighting features such as extended-range powertrains and advanced vehicle dynamics.
The company also announced that pre-sales of its modular flying car are slated to begin in the fourth quarter of this year at the Guangzhou auto show, in line with previous projections.