Chinese company XPeng, through its air mobility subsidiary AeroHT (recently renamed Aridge), has officially entered the mass production phase of its ambitious “Land Aircraft Carrier” project. It is a modular system that consists of a parent vehicle on the ground and a detachable eVTOL drone (electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft).
By road and by sight
The road part of this dual system is a robust electric van with three axles and six-wheel drive, approximately 5.5 meters long. It is built on an 800-volt architecture and uses a range extender system (range extender), which gives it a total reach of over 1,000 kilometers. The interior of the van offers space for four passengers, while the rear serves as a mobile hangar and recharging station for the flying module, which can be recharged up to six times with its internal power source before the parent vehicle needs recharging.
The air module is a two-seater aircraft made of carbon fiber with a 270° panoramic view. It uses six rotors with folding propellers to make it easier to fit inside the van. Although flights are limited to shorter distances – with an estimated flight duration of 15 to 20 minutes and a range of about 20 kilometers – the craft is equipped with advanced safety systems, including multiple propulsion and communication redundancy and a ballistic emergency parachute.
The control of the aircraft is simplified by the use of a single-stick system, which, according to the manufacturer, should facilitate the training of future pilots. Driver-pilots will be required to undergo specific flight training, and XPeng anticipates that the launch of this product will fuel China’s largest civilian pilot training program to date. The aircraft also supports autonomous take-off and landing functions, further reducing the burden on the operator.
Already 3,000 orders
According to announcements, the first deliveries to customers are expected at the end of 2026, which would make this the first commercially available vehicle of its kind in the world. Its price is around 243,000 euros (two million yuan), and production will take place in a specialized facility in the Chinese metropolis of Guangzhou. The factory will have an annual capacity of 10,000 units.
The project has already attracted significant market interest with reportedly more than 3,000 orders received as early as last year, and the figure has continued to rise following recent public flight demonstrations in Dubai and Guangzhou.