'No longer science fiction': Flying cars could launch in China in months, says Xpeng

People could start travelling in so-called flying cars in China as soon as summer 2027, the manufacturer of a two-seater autopilot vehicle told Euronews Next.The low-altitude flying device by XPeng Aridge is close to large-scale commercialisation, with limited deliveries to partners in China expected within months and a wider roll-out to follow, and has been approved by China’s civil aviation authorities for limited use."It’s no longer science fiction or just a single demo aircraft," vice president and chief financial officer of Chinese company XPeng Michael Du said at the Web Summit technology event in Lisbon. "It’s really a commercial model."The two-seat electric vehicle costs $300,000 (€270,000) and has a cockpit the size of a small car. The company has received more than 7,000 pre-orders worldwide, "most of them in China, but also some from the Middle East," Du said. Buyers include individuals interested in personal flying and air tourism, as well as operators in emergency rescue and public services. "It showcases how wide a range of applications our products are capable of," he said. The aircraft has completed its technical test flights across a range of conditions. "We tried it at sea level, high altitude, cold areas, hot areas, extreme wind or even rainy areas, a lot of extreme cases, so it’s safe," Du said.