Recent advancements in the field of flying cars have sparked interest and excitement among several automotive manufacturersCompanies like Chang'an Automobile and EHang Intelligent are teaming up to explore the potential of aerial vehiclesChang'an has publicly committed to injecting over 20 billion yuan into the low-altitude economy over the next five years to push forward the development of flying cars, demonstrating an ambitious vision for the future of urban transportation.
The concept of flying cars is edging ever closer to reality, as evidenced by the strategic cooperation agreement announced on December 21 by Chang'an Automobile to engage in research, manufacturing, sales, and operations in collaboration with EHangZet Wu, the Chairman of Chang'an Automobile, stated that the company is prepared to invest over 100 billion yuan within a decade, aiming to provide a multidimensional transportation solution that encompasses land, sea, and air.
EHang is a pioneer in the low-altitude economy sector, having developed the EH216-S, an autonomous aerial vehicle that has achieved mass production and received necessary certifications, including the Type Certificate (TC), Production Certificate (PC), and Airworthiness Certificate (AC). This certification is a crucial step in validating the safety and functionality of their aviation projects.
EHang's Chairman Hu Huazhi noted the advantages of collaborating with established automotive manufacturers: "Cross-industry partnerships can leverage the unique strengths and resources of each party, creating synergies that allow us to develop products suited for a wide range of scenarios and customer groups, ultimately providing consumers with more travel options."
Similarly, on December 18, GAC Group unveiled its flying car brand Govy and introduced the GOVY AirJet, a compound-wing flying car that showcases the company’s technological innovation and commitment to aerospace technology
This release marks GAC's second flying car offering; their first model, GOVE, which features a separable fuselage, was revealed in June 2023 and is expected to be showcased at the upcoming China International Airshow in November 2024.
The excitement around flying cars isn't limited to Chang'an and GACXiaopeng Huitian debuted its “Land Carrier” flying vehicle in Shanghai's Lujiazui area, where it demonstrated impressive stability and reliability during public flight testsXiaopeng Huitian reported that their initial offering of 200 pre-flight reservations sold out within 48 hours, leaving them with a total order backlog exceeding 3,000 units.
Geely has also entered the arena with its self-developed AE200 eVTOL aircraft, while Chery has rolled out a prototype of a triaxial composite-wing flying car that has completed its test flightsThis flurry of activity from various manufacturers is indicative of a burgeoning interest in aerial mobility, and it’s clear that automakers are making significant investments in flying car technology.
The low-altitude economy is projected to be a major growth area in the years ahead
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The Civil Aviation Administration of China estimates that the domestic low-altitude economic market could reach a staggering 1.5 trillion yuan by 2025 and escalate to 3.5 trillion yuan by 2035. Professor Zhang Yangjun from Tsinghua University believes that flying cars represent a future industry that will play a leading role in propelling economic and social development.
Automakers stand to gain unique advantages in entering the flying car sector, particularly regarding funding and technology, as there is a notable overlap in the supply chains of electric vehicles and flying carsIt is almost a natural progression for companies, especially those focusing on electric vehicles, to broaden their scope to include aerial commuting solutionsCurrently, one of the most pressing challenges facing the low-altitude aviation sector is the development of battery technology that can meet the demands of these flying vehicles.
One notable partnership includes CATL, a leading battery manufacturer in China, which has signed a strategic investment and cooperation agreement with one of the premier low-altitude aircraft manufacturers, Feihang
CATL plans to invest hundreds of millions of dollars into the development of batteries specifically designed for eVTOL aircraftLikewise, Eve Energy has introduced a new eVTOL battery with an energy density of 320 Wh/kg, and they have begun delivering samples to international aviation partners.
Experts acknowledge that there is a substantial potential for technology reuse from established electric vehicle systems within flying car designsThe repurposing rate of core technologies, such as the driving battery, autonomous navigation systems, and other electric vehicle components, is estimated at around 70%. Furthermore, once the supply chain maturity of automotive manufacturers is applied to aerial vehicle production, it is anticipated that flying cars could be mass-produced efficiently.
The flying car landscape is diverse, encompassing various vehicle forms like dual-use land and air vehicles or innovative designs featuring separable land and flight components
