XPENG AEROHT Achieves Unmanned Flight in Shanghai

XPENG AEROHT Successfully Completes Unmanned Test Flight in Shanghai

XPENG AEROHT successfully completed a test flight in Shanghai on December 14th. The test flight was took place on the lawn of the Shanghai International Convention Center's East Binjiang Hotel, Lijiazui, Pudong, Shanghai.

The flight was operated unmanned without any driver or passengers. With a remote control, the "Land Aircraft Carrier" took off vertically and performed a series of flight maneuvers, including hovering, turning left and right, and level flight, above the lawn.

On the site, Zhao Deli, founder and president of XPENG AEROHT, shared the plan of the production schedule of the flying cars.

-        Q3 2025: To complete the mass production factory of flying cars

-        October, 2025: To obtain the type certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China

-        2026: "First Flight Code" users to take flight

The so-called "First Flight Code" (FFC) is a limited "Priority Flight Reservation Channel" released by XPENG AEROHT. The “code” started selling to individual users at the Zhuhai Airshow this November. The 200 codes were sold out within 48 hours.

This time in Shanghai, XPENG AEROHT released another 100 codes, which were also sold out within an hour, reflecting the heat of the low-altitude economy in China.

Growing Interest and Competition in Low-Altitude Flight

Except for XPENG, there are several Chinese automakers accelerating the layout in the low-altitude flight sector, such as Changan Auto, Geely Holding, and GAC Group, who have already entered into this field.

Changan Auto announced its plan to launch flying car products by 2026 at the Guangzhou Auto Show this November. On December 12th, Geely's low-altitude arm AEROFUGIA’s global HQ base started construction in Chengdu, and the company is planning to launch low-altitude travel pilot operations gradually between 2026 and 2030.

In addition, the multi-rotor flying car under GAC Group’s "GAC GOVE" brand completed its first global flight in June 2023. Until now, the company has already completed over 300 flight tests and plans, and will start demonstration operations for the flying cars in 2025.