Chinese carmaker Xpeng’s aerial vehicle arm Xpeng Aeroht has begun construction of a manufacturing base for its modular flying cars in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, taking the lead worldwide to start large-scale production of such aerial vehicles. The plant will produce Land Aitcraft Carrier models with a projected annual capacity of 10,000 units, the company said. “The manufacturing base will prioritize environmentally-friendly production and artificial intelligence (AI), and establish a global benchmark for flying car production,” said Zhao Deli, Founder of Xpeng Aeroht. The facility in Guangzhou will initially cover some 180,000 square meters and incorporate four major workshops of composites: joint fitting, painting, assembling and other support infrastructure. “The new factory design integrates workshops and centralized logistics in a streamlined and compact layout, reducing waste in storage and transportation while enhancing production efficiency,” Zhao said.
The company said the new production line will employ a comprehensive traceability system that ensures compliance with strict aviation safety standards, tracking each component from the supply chain to final assembly. Additionally, the plant will implement solar power generation across its facilities, employ energy-saving equipment in high-energy areas, and utilize a digital energy management system for real-time monitoring, significantly lowering its carbon footprint. The modular flying car has ground and air modules which can autonomously separate and combine. The air module facilitates vertical takeoff for low-altitude flights, while the ground module ingeniously envelops the air module, allowing for ground transportation, according to the company.
The establishment of the flying car production facility plays an important role in Guangzhou’s progress in the low-altitude economy sector, said Shao Jingbo, Deputy Director of the Guangzhou Development District’s Administrative Committee. An action plan for promoting the high-quality development of the low-altitude economy in Guangdong proposes to build a world-leading low-altitude economy hub in the province within three years, with the economic scale exceeding CNY300 billion by 2026. Guangdong will nurture a number of leading enterprises and specialized innovative companies in the low-altitude economy by supporting the development of the industry through government investment funds and establishing special funds through market-oriented approaches to guide more funds into key areas of the low-altitude economy.
Guangzhou will closely collaborate with Xpeng Aeroht to drive the flying car industry forward, reaching new heights and expanding the industry’s impact on national economic growth, Shao said. Xpeng Aeroht recently completed an inaugural manned test flight of the air module. The modular flying car is scheduled to make its global public flight debut at Airshow China, which is scheduled in November in Zhuhai, Guangdong, with pre-sales beginning by the end of the year, the China Daily reports.
