Flying cars may be closer to reality than many Europeans think. XPeng, the Chinese electric vehicle maker, says its two-seater autonomous aircraft could begin commercial operations in China within months, with a wider rollout expected by summer 2027.
Speaking at the Web Summit technology conference in Lisbon, Michael Du, XPeng's vice president and chief financial officer, insisted the vehicle is no longer a futuristic concept. "It's no longer science fiction or just a single demo aircraft," he said. "It's really a commercial model."
The aircraft, developed by XPeng's subsidiary AeroHT, has already received limited approval from China's Civil Aviation Administration. The company has completed technical test flights in extreme conditions, from sea level to high altitude, and in cold, hot, windy, and rainy environments. Du stressed the safety record: "We tried it at sea level, high altitude, cold areas, hot areas, extreme wind or even rainy areas, a lot of extreme cases, so it's safe."
The two-seater, priced at $300,000 (€270,000), has a cockpit roughly the size of a small car. XPeng has collected more than 7,000 pre-orders worldwide, mostly from China but also from the Middle East. Buyers range from private individuals seeking personal air travel to operators in emergency rescue and public services. "It showcases how wide a range of applications our products are capable of," Du added.
From roads to runways
Du draws a parallel between the electrification of cars and the coming transformation of aviation. "Electrification has transformed and advanced the development of the car industry. Similar patterns will happen in the aircraft industry," he said, citing better power distribution, redundancy, and quieter operation as key advantages.
He invoked a Chinese proverb to explain the potential impact: "In China, there's a saying: if you want to develop the economy, you'd better build the roads." But air mobility, he argued, offers a different route to efficiency. "You don't actually need to build infrastructure inch by inch from the starting point to the end," he said. "That's the case for cars. That's the case for high-speed rail."
The executive believes the technology could be transformative for island nations and sparsely populated regions, where traditional transport links are costly or impractical. "Those areas will become so valuable" once air mobility arrives, he said.
Europe on the horizon
After China, XPeng plans to work with overseas regulators and partners, with the Middle East and Southeast Asia as the clearest early markets. But Europe is "definitely a very attractive market," Du said, adding that the company hopes Web Summit will introduce European consumers, regulators, and partners to the product.
However, he acknowledged hurdles before entering Europe, including the need for an affordable launch price and the right infrastructure and designated flying zones. The company's strategy, Du suggested, might mirror the gradual adoption of Chinese electric cars in Europe: "Starting small, starting from outside the city, starting with some cargo, some passenger carrying, gradually into larger ones, entering into cities."
Asked about US-China tensions, Du said XPeng would welcome more open markets and would be happy to enter the United States if regulations allow. He noted that China, the US, and Europe together account for only about half of the global aircraft market, leaving ample room for growth elsewhere.
The announcement comes as China and Europe deepen their economic ties in other sectors, including expanded air links and record trade surpluses. For European policymakers, the prospect of flying cars raises questions about airspace regulation, urban planning, and public acceptance—issues that will likely shape the continent's response to this emerging technology.
