Xpeng Aero HT, the aerospace firm below Chinese language EV startup Xpeng, unveiled at CES 2025 its “modular flying automobile,” the so-called Land Plane Carrie. It’s ssentially an electrical minivan with a small folding eVTOL (vertical takeoff and touchdown car) tucked within the again, which might be rolled out and launched into flight.
The corporate says it already has 3,000 intent orders for the car and that it plans to start mass-production this yr, with first deliveries deliberate for 2026. Potential clients and use instances for the car embrace thrill-seeking people with deep pockets – the Land Plane Provider is priced “under $300,000” – and emergency search and rescue, in keeping with an Aero HT spokesperson.
Aero HT plans to launch in China first earlier than contemplating worldwide markets.
Whereas Xpeng has shared sophisticated and science fiction-inspired designs for future flying automobiles prior to now, this one makes an attempt to get to the skies by a extra hybrid route. Relatively than requiring a big costly hangar, Aero HT’s invention would permit you to merely drive the automobile and the eVTOL to a take-off and touchdown website, ship a “single command” to detach and unfold the small plane, then take off.
When you’ve had your enjoyable within the skies and are available again all the way down to earth, the mothership reconnects to the eVTOL, folding its arms and storing it again within the trunk. Straightforward peasy. Proper?
If this sounds a bit far-fetched to you, you’re not alone, however Brian Gu, vice chairman and president of Xpeng, mentioned the Land Plane Provider has obtained its kind certification – which suggests the car meets the necessities to be produced – and has accomplished its first public crewed flight demonstration.
Within the U.S., eVTOL startups like Beta Applied sciences and Joby Aviation have performed piloted flights, however Archer Aviation nonetheless has not.
Other than kind certification, Aero HT may also must get its manufacturing certificates, which is able to enable it to mass-produce its models, after which its airworthiness certificates.
Aero HT’s manufacturing facility in Guangzhou is already below building and scheduled to start out manufacturing in direction of the top of this yr. At capability, the ability will be capable to produce 10,000 automobiles, in keeping with an Aero HT spokesperson.
Once more, you is likely to be questioning how the corporate plans to scale manufacturing to such unbelievable heights. Does Aero HT have ocean-sized pockets?
In 2024, Xpeng Aero HT secured $150 million in Collection B1 financing to start out building on its facility, and the corporate continues to lift funds, in keeping with a spokesperson. Earlier than that, in 2021, the corporate raised a $500 million Collection A.
Once more, for reference, Beta Applied sciences has raised $1.15 billion, Joby has raised $2.8 billion, and Archer has raised over $3 billion, per PitchBook knowledge.
TechCrunch has requested Xpeng Aero HT how way more cash it thinks it might want to scale manufacturing within the subsequent yr and can replace this story if we get a solution.
However given the corporate’s long-term plans, extra capital on the desk will possible be essential. The Land Plane Provider modular flying automobile is simply Section 1. Aero HT has supplied no timeline, however its second section of plane merchandise includes the creation of a high-speed, long-range tiltrotor flying automobile to be used in an “built-in city air mobility community.” And the third section is to develop an eVTOL flying automobile to allow “seamless, door-to-door, built-in land-air city transportation techniques” in keeping with an announcement launched by the corporate.
Extra particulars on the mothership
The bottom module, or mothership, is a six-wheel car that appears rather a lot like EV startup Canoo’s Way of life Supply Automobile, with a contact of the Tesla Cybertruck. The inspiration, per Xpeng, is “what a lunar rover for Earth may appear to be” – smooth, heavy-duty, futuristic.
It’s bought a floating roof, darkish wheel arches, and foldable rearview mirrors that retract into the fenders when parked. The twin-swing doorways open robotically within the again, and even with the eVTOL inside, there’s nonetheless room for 4 passengers. Aero HT additionally says the car will launch in 4 shade choices.
The Land Plane Provider additionally guarantees to behave as a cellular supercharging station for the eVTOL, powering the plane throughout a drive and park so it’s at all times prepared for takeoff. It has what Xpeng says is the world’s first 800-volt silicon carbide vary extension energy platform to realize a mixed vary over 621 miles.
A compact eVTOL with six rotors
The eVTOL is made to be tremendous light-weight, with a panoramic cockpit fabricated from carbon fiber. The car has a dual-duct six-rotor design with foldable propellers and arms, and it’s powered by its personal 800-volt silicon carbide high-voltage platform.
The corporate says the car’s security options embrace absolutely redundant designs for propulsion, energy, communications, flight management and operation, plus automated rotor failure response. Aero HT added that it’s within the means of testing 200 models to reveal reliability in adversarial situations.
And apparently, it’s simple sufficient to fly. Whereas homeowners might want to get licensed to fly it legally, Xpeng says the car’s single-stick management simplifies operations. And if not, it will probably additionally fly in autonomous mode “because of clever flight help which incorporates one-touch takeoff, automated route planning, real-time airspace monitoring and touchdown imaginative and prescient help,” in keeping with the corporate.
That’s a variety of guarantees, and we’ll be watching to see if Xpeng delivers. However all in all, chef’s kiss for the proper form of CES announcement.
