Aridge, a subsidiary of Xpeng Motors, has launched the world’s first production line for modular flying aero cars in Guangzhou. The first Land Carrier unit has already rolled off the line and will be used for test flights, while full deliveries are expected next year.
Land Carrier’s main feature is its modular design. The ground module is a six-wheel, all-wheel-drive SUV with a steerable rear axle, compact in size (5.5 × 2 × 2 m), suitable for standard parking spaces and drivable with a regular driver’s licence. The aerial module is an electric drone with six rotors and a panoramic cabin. It can fly either manually or autonomously, with automatic takeoff, landing and route following.
To switch to flight mode, the driver has to leave the ground module and move into the aerial one. The drone detaches and takes off vertically within minutes. After takeoff, the capsule continues through the air at near-helicopter speeds, while the ground module remains in place.
The plant can produce up to 10,000 flying cars per year. Production is environmentally friendly, using solar power and digital emissions control. With mass production now underway, the flying car concept is no longer science fiction.
