Flying Cars: Moving from Concept Validation to the Eve of Commercialization

China’s low-altitude economy reached 670.25 billion yuan in 2024 and is projected by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) to exceed 3.5 trillion yuan by 2035. This expansion is driven by the integration of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft into a national strategic emerging industry under the “15th Five-Year Plan.”

Why is China accelerating its low-altitude economy?

The Chinese government now classifies the low-altitude economy as an “emerging pillar industry,” a designation made in the March 2026 government work report. This puts flying cars in the same strategic category as artificial intelligence and integrated circuits.

Regulatory frameworks are shifting to support this growth. A revised Civil Aviation Law, effective July 1, 2026, includes a new chapter on “development promotion.” According to the law, this provides a precise regulatory framework for eVTOLs and clarifies how low-altitude airspace is managed.

Local cities are implementing these mandates with specific targets:

Shanghai: Aiming for a core industry scale of 80 billion yuan by 2028, according to January 2026 measures.
Shenzhen: Planning 1,200 takeoff and landing points and 1,000 commercial routes by the end of 2026.

The business environment is reacting quickly. Data shows China registered over 25,000 new low-altitude economy enterprises in 2025, a 162.36% increase.

Did you know? By the end of 2025, China had 3.287 million registered drones with cumulative flight hours exceeding 45.3 million, according to CAAC data.

Which companies are winning the flying car race?

Automakers have shifted from concept designs to mass production. Two major players, XPENG AEROHT and GAC GAOYU, show different scales of commercial ambition.

XPENG AEROHT’s “Land Aircraft Carrier” secured over 7,000 orders by the first quarter of 2026. The company’s Guangzhou Huangpu plant has a planned annual capacity of 10,000 units, which would allow it to produce one aircraft every 30 minutes at full capacity, according to company reports.

GAC GAOYU focuses on a different segment with the GOVY AirCab. While its annual capacity is lower—designed for 100 units—the company has secured nearly 2,000 intended orders worth over 3.3 billion yuan. GAC GAOYU expects to finish the certification process by the end of 2026.

Other key players include:

Aerofugia: Its AE200-100 six-seat tilt-rotor eVTOL has a 200-kilometer range and entered the fourth phase of airworthiness certification.
EHang: The company reported its first quarterly profit in the fourth quarter of 2025 after becoming the first globally to secure all “four certificates” for autonomous eVTOLs.

How is battery technology solving the flight problem?

Solid-state batteries are the primary technical catalyst for commercial eVTOLs. A flying car using high-energy solid-state batteries recently completed a crossing of the Qiongzhou Strait.

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Su Qingpeng, CEO of GAC GAOYU, stated that solid-state batteries are an “inevitable path” for the industry. He noted that flying cars can tolerate higher costs than ground-based vehicles, making small-scale production of these batteries economically viable.

The CAAC reports that 19 unmanned aircraft models have already completed type certification in China, with more than 70 additional types currently under review. This regulatory progress supports a projected eVTOL market expansion to 9.5 billion yuan by 2026.

Pro Tip: For investors, watch the “airworthiness certification” timeline. As seen with Aerofugia and GAC GAOYU, the transition from “trial production” to “commercial flight” depends entirely on these government certifications.

Where will these aircraft actually operate?

Commercialization is moving into urban centers through “verification flights” and digital mapping. On February 13, 2026, the Bailuwan area in Chengdu’s Jinjiang District hosted the first manned verification flight in a main urban center, where an eVTOL hovered at 80 meters for ten minutes.

Infrastructure is also being digitized. The Laboratory of Surveying and Remote Sensing at Wuhan University created the Wuhan “Sky Road,” the first urban low-altitude flight chart in China. This plan includes 700 routes covering 4,000 kilometers and 2,000 takeoff and landing points.

While the supply side is growing, industry experts warn that success depends on verifying genuine market demand rather than just increasing production. Future growth hinges on three variables: safety, regulation, and operating costs.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will flying cars be available for the public?

Several companies, including XPENG AEROHT and GAC GAOYU, have already begun trial production and secured thousands of orders, with certification processes expected to conclude by the end of 2026.

Are flying cars safe for urban use?

Safety is managed through CAAC type certifications. Currently, 19 models are certified and over 70 are under review to ensure airworthiness before commercial deployment.

What is the range of current eVTOLs?

Range varies by model; for example, Aerofugia’s AE200-100 is designed for a maximum range of 200 kilometers.

What do you think about the shift to a three-dimensional transportation network? Would you trust an autonomous eVTOL for your daily commute? Let us know in the comments below or subscribe to our newsletter for more updates on the low-altitude economy.