At CES 2025, Xpeng Aero HT, the aerospace division of Chinese EV startup Xpeng, introduced its groundbreaking modular flying car, the Land Aircraft Carrier. This innovative vehicle combines an electric minivan with a detachable electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Set for mass production in 2026, the Land Aircraft Carrier is priced at $300,000, and the company has already received 3,000 intent orders.
The Land Aircraft Carrier integrates two distinct components: a six-wheeled electric minivan (the ground module) and a detachable eVTOL aircraft. The transition from road travel to flight is straightforward. Once at a designated takeoff site, the user can issue a single command. The eVTOL detaches from the minivan, unfolds, and prepares for takeoff. After completing the flight, the eVTOL returns and reconnects to the minivan, folding neatly into the trunk for easy storage. This seamless transition between land and air travel significantly advances urban mobility.
The ground module features a sleek, futuristic design with a floating roof, dark wheel arches, and foldable rearview mirrors. It is spacious enough to accommodate four passengers, even with the eVTOL onboard. The eVTOL aircraft, on the other hand, boasts a lightweight carbon-fiber panoramic cockpit and a dual-duct six-rotor system. Its foldable propellers and arms allow for compact storage, optimizing both storage and functionality.
The Land Aircraft Carrier is a technical advancement that brings more than just perception. It resolves some of the current urban issues like parking and traffic difficulties. With increasing urbanization, conventional automobiles cannot satisfy the increasing demand for mobility. Combining an air transport system with a car could ease some of these demands and is a practical and futuristic solution to urban mobility.
Xpeng defines its mission beyond developing a luxury car. They seek to redesign mobility through dense urban environments. As air taxis continue to rise and the increasing interest in eVTOL technology develops, the Land Aircraft Carrier represents a new kind of transportation functioning in people’s minds. The modularity of the design also means that the vehicle is well-suited for flexible performance across multiple urban and rural environments.
The release of this vehicle is crucial for the advancement of personal air transportation, as it is equipped with electric minivan solutions integrated with top-end eVTOL elements.