Xpeng Aero HT, the aerospace company under Chinese EV startup Xpeng, has unveiled its "modular flying car," the Land Aircraft Carrier, at CES 2025. This innovative vehicle is essentially an electric minivan with a small folding eVTOL (vertical takeoff and landing vehicle) tucked in the back, which can be rolled out and launched into flight.

The company has already secured 3,000 intent orders for the vehicle, with plans to begin mass-production this year and first deliveries scheduled for 2026. The Land Aircraft Carrier is priced "below $300,000," making it an attractive option for thrill-seeking individuals with deep pockets, as well as emergency search and rescue operations, according to an Aero HT spokesperson.

Aero HT plans to launch the vehicle in China first, with international markets to follow. This hybrid approach to flying cars is a departure from Xpeng's previous, more futuristic designs. Instead of requiring a large, expensive hangar, the Land Aircraft Carrier allows users to drive the car and eVTOL to a take-off and landing site, detach and unfold the small aircraft, and take off with a single command.

Once the flight is complete, the mothership reconnects to the eVTOL, folding its arms and storing it back in the trunk. Aero HT's invention has received its type certification, which means the vehicle meets the requirements to be produced, and has completed its first public crewed flight demonstration. The company will need to secure its production certificate and airworthiness certificate before mass production can begin.

Aero HT's production facility in Guangzhou is already under construction and scheduled to start production towards the end of this year. At capacity, the facility will be able to produce 10,000 vehicles, according to an Aero HT spokesperson. The company has secured $150 million in Series B1 financing to start construction on its facility and continues to raise funds to support its ambitious plans.

In comparison, other eVTOL startups like Beta Technologies, Joby Aviation, and Archer Aviation have raised significantly more capital, with $1.15 billion, $2.8 billion, and over $3 billion, respectively, according to PitchBook data. Xpeng Aero HT's long-term plans involve developing a high-speed, long-range tiltrotor flying car for use in an "integrated urban air mobility network" in Phase 2, and an eVTOL flying car to enable "seamless, door-to-door, integrated land-air urban transportation systems" in Phase 3.

The ground module, or mothership, is a six-wheel vehicle that resembles EV startup Canoo's Lifestyle Delivery Vehicle, with a touch of the Tesla Cybertruck. The inspiration, per Xpeng, is "what a lunar rover for Earth could look like" – sleek, heavy-duty, futuristic. The vehicle features a floating roof, dark wheel arches, and foldable rearview mirrors that retract into the fenders when parked. The dual-swing doors open automatically in the back, and even with the eVTOL inside, there's still room for four passengers.

The Land Aircraft Carrier also promises to act as a mobile supercharging station for the eVTOL, powering the aircraft during a drive and park so it's always ready for takeoff. It has what Xpeng says is the world's first 800-volt silicon carbide range extension power platform to achieve a combined range over 621 miles.

The eVTOL is made to be super lightweight, with a panoramic cockpit made of carbon fiber. The vehicle has a dual-duct six-rotor design with foldable propellers and arms, and it's powered by its own 800-volt silicon carbide high-voltage platform. The company says the vehicle's safety features include fully redundant designs for propulsion, power, communications, flight control, and operation, plus automatic rotor failure response. Aero HT added that it is in the process of testing 200 units to demonstrate reliability in adverse conditions.

Owners will need to get certified to fly the vehicle legally, but Xpeng says the vehicle's single-stick control simplifies operations. The vehicle can also fly in autonomous mode "thanks to intelligent flight assistance which includes one-touch takeoff, automated route planning, real-time airspace monitoring, and landing vision assistance," according to the company.

While the Land Aircraft Carrier is an impressive achievement, it remains to be seen if Xpeng Aero HT can deliver on its promises. With its innovative design, ambitious production plans, and significant capital requirements, this modular flying car is certainly an exciting development in the electric vehicle and aerospace industries.