Chinese startup Xpeng Aeroht, backed by electric vehicle maker Xpeng Motors, is setting ambitious targets for the volume production of its electric passenger drones. The company aims to achieve this milestone in the fourth quarter of 2025, marking a significant step forward in the development of electric flying vehicles. The details of this plan were disclosed in a regulatory filing on Tuesday, part of a framework agreement between Xpeng Motors’ subsidiary and Aeroht.
According to the regulatory filing, Xpeng Aeroht is targeting volume production of its electric passenger drones in the fourth quarter of 2025. The filing also outlines a framework agreement between one of Xpeng Motors’ fully-owned subsidiaries and Aeroht, stating that each aircraft will cost RMB 71,000 ($9,940) when production volume is below 25,000 units.
Electric Flying Vehicle Prototype
In October, He Xiaopeng, chairman of Xpeng Motors and controlling shareholder of Aeroht, unveiled a prototype of an electric flying vehicle. The prototype showcased a modular system where flight and automobile components can be separated, highlighting the company’s innovative approach to electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) technology.
Xpeng Aeroht’s focus on electric vertical take-off and landing technology aligns with the broader trend in the industry. The development of eVTOL vehicles represents a transformative shift in urban mobility, offering the potential for more efficient and flexible transportation solutions in congested urban areas.
Competition and Certification
The race to develop electric flying vehicles is competitive, with multiple companies vying for market share. Xpeng Aeroht faces competition from Geely-affiliated Aerofugia, which anticipates securing an airworthiness certificate from Chinese regulators as early as 2025. This certification would facilitate the delivery of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) air taxis to its shareholder Sino Jet, a Chinese business jet operator.
Xpeng Aeroht’s ambitious goal of achieving volume production of electric passenger drones by the fourth quarter of 2025 underscores the rapid advancements in electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) technology. As companies like Xpeng Motors and Aeroht work towards making flying cars a reality, the industry is witnessing an exciting convergence of electric vehicles and aviation, signaling a potential revolution in urban transportation. The regulatory approval and certification process will be crucial in determining the success and widespread adoption of these innovative flying vehicles.