Flying Vehicle Component Draws Crowds at CES 2025

The flying car from XPeng Aeroht in China drew massive crowds at CES as the company showcased the flying component of the dual-purpose vehicle.

XPeng Aeroht last year introduced the Land Aircraft Carrier, a six-wheel, three-axle ground vehicle, known as the mothership, which carries the flying component inside. 

The rear trunk, which stores the flying component, has a semi-transparent glass design, so the flying vehicle can be subtly visible. 

Credit: Chuck Martin

To fly, that part of the vehicle totally detaches and becomes a standalone electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle for low-altitude flights, which Deli demonstrated at the event.

The air module is fully electric and supports both manual and automatic flying. It has six propellers and a panoramic cockpit.

The separation and reconnection mechanisms are automatic. Once detached, the six arms and propellers of the air vehicle unfold. 

At CES last year, XPeng featured its future flying car, with foldable wings, a big hit at CES 2024.

XPeng's future flying car on display at CES 2024. Credit: Chuck Martin

At this CES, XPeng featured the mothership version, with great emphasis on the flying vehicle that comes out of the back of the driving vehicle.

The flying vehicle was covered until a great unveiling at a press event an hour after the CES exhibition opened, assuring a large crowd.

Related:Flying Vehicle Featured Early at CES 2025

The company has said it has received more than 2,000 orders for the flying car, with nearly 80% of the purchasers being entrepreneurs, CEOs, celebrities and flight enthusiasts. 

The flying car took its first public flight in front of media and attendees at the Guangzhou Auto Show late last year.

The vehicle, which detached from the Land Aircraft Carriers, was flown by founder and experienced flyer Zhao Deli.

Once inside, the flying module is recharged by the mothership. The air vehicle is flown by joystick control or can be flown and landed autonomously.

XPeng recently started the “manned test flight” phase of the Land Aircraft Carrier with Deli personally testing the vehicle’s performance “to optimize its parameters and provide users with the ultimate flight experience,” according to the company.

XPpeng Aeroht also is developing a new product codenamed X5, an eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) vehicle with high-speed, long-range capabilities.

The six rotors of the X5 can tilt from vertical to horizontal, what XPeng calls a breakthrough technology to achieve high-speed, long-range eVTOL flight. 

The X5 is aimed at intercity travel and is projected for production within the next five years.

XPeng Aeroht is constructing a large-scale flying car manufacturing plant designed to produce 10,000 flying vehicles a year.

Related:Honeywell, NXP Advance Controls for Flying Vehicles: CES 2025

The plant in Guangzhou, China, is scheduled to produce the air module of the modular flying car Land Aircraft Carrier.

The new manufacturing plant contains a composites shop, joint shop, painting shop, assembly shop and supporting infrastructure. 

A preview event in Guangzhou in southern China earlier this year included a live demonstration of the air module flying. The flight module took off vertically from the grass, circled in the air and smoothly landed.

The company plans to deploy more than 200 air modules for a variety of tests including single-point failure tests for components including rotors, motors and battery packs.

The land aircraft carrier also is intended for use in emergency services such as medical rescues, obstacle crossings, highway accident responses and high-rise evacuations.

The first phase of deployment is to launch the flying car in restricted flying experiences and public service applications.

XPeng Aeroht has raised $150 million in a series B financing round, with plans to use the funds to develop, mass produce and commercialize the Land Aircraft Carrier, according to Deli.

The manned air module of the eVTOL is being developed for users in China.

The electric aerial vehicle (EAV) maker, a subsidiary of Chinese electric vehicle maker XPeng Motors, has long planned to establish an intelligent, large-scale flying car factory.

The flying car looks like a car with large propellers atop it with the wings folding up into the car for on-road driving.

XPeng has expanded its flight application network, with 60 flying car camps including general aviation airports, scenic spots, cultural and tourism towns and urban suburbs signed.

The Land Aircraft Carrier model is more practical in the short term since the land and air components can be developed and treated separately.

XPeng raised $500 million in a series A financing round in 2021 and is backed by a consortium of investors, including Sequoia China, Eastern Bell Capital, GGV Capital, GL Ventures and Yunfeng Capital.

A somewhat similar approach to flying vehicles is being taken by LuftCar in Orlando, Florida, at least in taking the approach of developing two separate vehicles.

LuftCar is developing a hydrogen-powered eVTOL vehicle. The flying component, called a flying forklift by the company, would attach to the land vehicle and then be able to fly it.