How far is Xiaopeng flying car's overseas public debut car "flying into reality"?

　　Our reporter Zhao Yuhan

　　Fly into the sky with a car?

Today, more and more companies are committed to "bringing this dream into reality".

Recently, the Xpeng Huitian flying car Traveler X2, a subsidiary of Xpeng Motors, soared into the sky and completed its first overseas public flight in Dubai.

　　In recent years, intelligent flying cars have become a hot topic, and many companies, including domestic car companies, multinational car companies, and technology giants, have been exploring in this field.

How far are flying cars from us?

Xiaopeng Huitian gave a timetable for "mass production as soon as 2024".

However, in the eyes of industry insiders, due to multiple constraints such as technology, cost, and current regulations, it is not easy to commercialize the new species of flying cars.

　　Xiaopeng X2 can fly at low altitude in the future

　　SkyDive Dubai, a skydiving centre, is Dubai's flying mecca.

On October 10, a flying car developed and manufactured in China became the shining protagonist of this sky.

　　After receiving a Chartered Flight Permit from the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, X2 chose to complete its first public flight demonstration during the 42nd "GITEX GLOBAL" exhibition in Dubai.

Witnessed by representatives from the Chinese Consulate General in Dubai, Dubai International Chamber of Commerce, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Dubai Economic and Tourism Authority, Dubai World Trade Center and nearly 100 global media, the four sets of propellers around the X2 rotate at a high speed, driving the X2 to rise slowly. null.

　　At the maiden flight ceremony, Gu Hongdi, vice chairman and president of Xiaopeng Motors, said excitedly that the reason why he chose Dubai for the maiden flight was because Dubai is a world-renowned "city of innovation" and likes to accept new things, Future transportation has forward-looking thinking and layout.

　　It is reported that the X2 adopts a closed cockpit, showing a drop-shaped shape with a sense of technology.

In order to achieve lightweight, the entire body of the X2 adopts a carbon fiber structure.

It can carry two passengers and is suitable for low-altitude flights in future cities. It can meet the needs of short-distance travel in cities, and can also serve scenarios such as field rescue and medical transportation.

　　Companies scramble to develop flying cars

　　Human exploration of flying cars can be traced back to a hundred years ago.

In recent years, with the gradual maturity and popularization of smart electric vehicle technology, a new round of carnival has emerged on the smart electric flying car track.

There are traditional multinational car companies such as GM, Porsche, and Volkswagen, as well as domestic car companies such as Geely, Xiaopeng, and GAC, as well as technology giants such as Google, Intel, and Uber.

According to incomplete statistics, as of 2021, more than 200 companies or institutions around the world are developing flying car products, with about 420 models.

　　Flying cars have also sparked the pursuit of capital.

Among domestic companies, EHang was listed in the United States in 2019, becoming the world's first listed flying car company; in addition, Weihang Technology, Fengfei Aviation, Xiaopeng Huitian, etc. have also received multiple rounds of huge financing.

Last year, five flying car companies from the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Brazil went public in the United States.

　　Under the heat of capital, some companies have also produced results one after another.

In addition to Xiaopeng Huitian, Geely's flying car TF-1 has completed its test flight, which can achieve a maximum flight altitude of 3,000 meters and a cruising range of 640 kilometers; Geely also said that the pure electric vertical take-off and landing 5-seat flying car TF-2 is under development , the first flight is expected by the end of this year.

Volkswagen Group (China) has exhibited its first electric vertical take-off and landing manned aircraft prototype - V.MO.

The flying car cooperating with the two overseas giants Boeing and Porsche has been tested and has a cruising range of about 80.4 kilometers.

Toyota's flying car has been tested and is currently in the stage of continuous research and development.

　　Dreams "shine into reality" with many resistances

　　However, while more and more companies are entering the market, there are also companies that are leaving the market sadly.

Recently, Kitty Hawk, a flying car company invested by Google’s co-founder, announced that it will be shutting down, revealing the “dark corners” behind the high popularity of flying cars.

　　"Flying cars are still in an embarrassing period." Zhang Xiang, an analyst in the automotive industry, said that in terms of related supporting policies and high costs, flying cars are still in their infancy, and it is still fashionable to talk about application landing and commercialization. morning.

　　"At present, flying cars still focus on the function of flying, and the functions related to cars are relatively poor." Zhang Xiang believes that there is still a big gap between the current flying car and people's imagination. It is more advantageous in terms of cost performance and flight experience.

Cui Dongshu, secretary general of the Passenger Federation, also said: "Flying cars are still far away. For some car companies, the more important thing is to sell good cars."

　　But active players may not think so.

After completing the first overseas flight, Xiaopeng Huitian said that it will announce the latest research and development progress of the next-generation flying car in the near future.

Its founder He Xiaopeng also said that the flying car may be mass-produced as soon as 2024, and the estimated price is about one million yuan.

　　Geely, which established Wofei Changkong and entered the field of flying cars through the acquisition of Taili, an American flying car company, is also actively promoting the landing of flying cars.

Previously, Taili Flying Car TF-1 has been the first to win the airworthiness certificate issued by the FAA, and the pre-sale price in North America is 280,000 US dollars.

　　Industry insiders analyzed that although there is still a long way to go from ordinary consumers, from the perspective of the advancement of companies such as Xiaopeng and Geely, flying cars may be the first to land in some specific commercialization scenarios.