Chinese Tesla competitor unveils plans for flying car
By: GIULIA HEYWARD npr
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Chinese Tesla competitor unveils plans for flying car
Xpeng released designs of the flying car, pictured, taking flight above The Alps. Xpeng /Xpeng
Chinese electric vehicle company Xpeng has unveiled designs of what could be the world's first flying car.
More than 500 companies are reportedly working on similarly designed vehicles, and roughly two-dozen are already in testing phases. Xpeng, considered to be a rival to the U.S. brand Tesla, shared designs of the full-electric vertical take-off and landing (eVToL) flying car at its fourth annual Tech Day in Guangzhou, China, on Oct. 24. The electric car, according to the company, completed a maiden flight and several tests.
"Driven by our vision of 'tech for the greater good' and customers' evolving demands, we continue to reach technical breakthroughs and set new industry benchmarks," Xpeng chairman and CEO, He Xiaopeng, said at the event.
In videos made available to the public, a prototype of the flying car can be seen mid-flight before landing back onto the ground. An additional teaser video of the model shows propellers, which resemble a helicopter's wings, situated on top of the car extending outward before retracting back.
The eVToL flying car is designed to resemble a normal car when in driving mode. The steering wheel and a right-hand gear lever are used to control it once in the air and in "flight mode."
The flying car is just one of several breakthroughs the company shared during its Tech Day. Xpeng also shared other advancements in driver assistance technology and robotaxis.
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Perfect solution for getting out of a traffic jam. However, there is no way I will ride in one of those, just as there is no way I will ride in a robotaxi.
Hmm idiots on the road and idiots in the air..a win win situation..
Look to the future - it's coming, but thankfully not while I'm still alive.
There will always be idiots...it's a given..
Even worse. Idiots running out of charge on the ground blocking traffic; and now falling from the air on top of it.
Hope it comes with built in parachutes.
...and ejector seats.
Not if one wants to become instant sashimi.
LOL. I didn't think of the helicopter blades. What about the floor opening like a bomber's bombay doors and eject downwards.
Are you familiar with the early production models of the Lockheed F-104A Starfighter and the Boeing B-47A Stratofortress? Both had downward firing ejection seats and most of the aircrew using them invariably did not survive low altitude ejections. Usually too low for proper parachute deployment.
Some small private single engine aircraft have parachutes attached to the upper spine of the aircraft that allow it to float down to Earth in the event of a total engine failure.
No, I just made an uneducated guess.
No problem Buzz.
Like most Chinese products, it will be complete crap.
Which says something about how little you know about Chinese products. I don't think Voltaire would make such an ignorant comment - perhaps you should change your avatar and follow Candide's advice and just tend your garden. Many years ago products made in Asia, such as in Japan, were inferior, but these days they will stand up as well as any American products.
And in fact a lot of American products like cars and washing machines and refrigerators have Chinese parts in them.
Even if that is true, especially in military hardware, crap can kill you just as as dead. Saw it happen plenty in Vietnam.
I wonder if the Chinese military will be the only recipients of said vehicles. They are bound to be hyper expensive for the average masses in any country.
I don't think Musk will buy from a competitor, but maybe Jack Ma can afford one.