Reuters news agency reports that the president of Chinese car manufacturer Xpeng, Brian Gu, recently announced that the company is preparing for mass production of its flying car as early as next year. In addition, the company plans to begin production of humanoid robots at the end of 2026, which will initially be deployed in reception and sales positions.
The company has already received more than 7,000 orders for its flying car, most of them in China, where it is currently working to obtain approval from aviation authorities. At the same time, Xpeng will begin testing driverless taxis (robotaxis) this year in the city of Guangzhou, with the goal of producing thousands of units over the next year and a half.
On the business side, the company is strengthening its cooperation with Germany’s Volkswagen, which has already begun producing its first electric model developed jointly with the Chinese firm. Gu noted that the company is open to additional partnerships with global automakers in order to become a major global player.
Today, Xpeng operates in about 60 countries outside China, and its international revenue accounts for around 15% of total income. The company’s ambition is that within a decade, more than half of its revenue will come from sales outside China, while the robotics sector is expected to surpass automotive in profitability.
In February last year, Alef Aeronautics presented a breakthrough in transportation – a flying electric car priced at around $300,000 that would allow drivers to bypass traffic jams. The revolutionary vehicle, which could become “the next taxi,” offers passengers a 360-degree view in a design resembling a UFO. The car is equipped with propellers located in the engine bay and trunk, allowing it to take off at any time to skip traffic.
The company conducted its first successful test in an urban environment on a closed public street, where the vehicle demonstrated both normal road driving and vertical takeoff. In a video documenting the test, the car is seen driving a few meters, taking off vertically, hovering over another vehicle, landing, and continuing to drive.
In 2024, the “Future of Aviation” program was launched in collaboration with the UK aerospace industry, aiming to carry out a drone taxi test within two years, with expectations that the first flying taxi will operate regularly four years later.
Most flying taxis currently in development resemble futuristic helicopters and are generally capable of carrying around five people. One such vehicle has been developed in Israel for several years and has attracted global interest. However, experts argue that there are still many obstacles to overcome, such as infrastructure and safety.