A Chinese company’s combination multi-rotor, 2-seat eVTOL aircraft and state-of-the-art transporter vehicle, is already taking orders, especially in the Middle East where it has recently completed its first global public manned flight.

In the UK, hardly anyone has heard of XPENG but it is one of China’s foremost and most technologically advanced EV manufacturers. Their first range of cars were introduced to the UK market earlier this year.

XPENG have a subsidiary, XPENG ARIDGE (Formerly XPENG AEROHT) which specialises in eVTOL flying cars. In this case, a modular system that they call a “Land Aircraft Carrier” (LAC). Their thinking is that the Land Aircraft Carrier overcomes traditional eVTOL challenges like mobility (moving aircraft on the ground often requires towing services to transport the aircraft to designated take-off and landing sites), recharging, and storage. Its air module, stored in the trunk of the 6-wheel ground vehicle, detaches and reattaches autonomously with a single command, enabling seamless transitions between driving and flying.

Designed to make flying as easy as driving, the air module features a large, user-friendly smart display in place of complex aircraft dashboards. It offers both automatic and manual flight modes. In automatic mode, pilots can plan routes, take off, and land with one touch, supported by 3D vision, alerts, and landing assistance. In manual mode, ARIDGE’s single-stick control system combines six operations into one joystick for effortless one-handed piloting.

On October 12 in Dubai, the company achieved a major milestone, demonstrating the eVTOL in manned flight. It triggered orders for some 600 flying cars across the Middle East, bringing its total global orders to over 7,000 units. The Middle East is now set to become its first international market, with consumer sales expected as early as 2027.

Is this all just fanciful ambition? Apparently not. The Land Aircraft Carrier is already in mass production, with customer deliveries in China scheduled to begin in 2026. To meet demand, the company has built an intelligent factory for mass-produced flying cars in Guangzhou, capable of producing up to 10,000 units annually.