Soaring Beyond Traffic: XPeng AeroHT&#8217;s Modular Flying Car Takes Flight at Web Summit Lisbon 2026
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<aside>(This article was generated with AI and it&#8217;s based on a AI-generated transcription of a real talk on stage. While we strive for accuracy, we encourage readers to verify important information.)</aside>
<img decoding="async" src="https://web-summit-engine.imgix.net/jbnjzle9iwe6f7l4psaubw16vyl6?auto=format&amp;fit=fill&amp;fill=solid&amp;fill-color=white&amp;w=600&amp;h=600&amp;fm=jpg&amp;dl=Jianhua Li.jpg" alt="Jianhua Li, Deli Zhao" align="left" hspace="10" width="200" style="float:left;margin-right: 15px">
The future of transit is a present reality, as highlighted at Web Summit Lisbon 2026. XPeng AeroHT, starting as a small garage operation, has grown into a billion-dollar mobility giant. They are now scaling production to 10,000 units annually, transforming flying cars from science fiction into a tangible manufacturing reality.

The event featured the first all-Mandarin talk on the Center Stage, with live translation. Ms. Jianhua Li, CGTN Europe Correspondent, moderated, introducing Mr. Deli Zhao, Founder and President of XPeng AeroHT. Ms. Li engaged the audience, asking how many wished to fly to work, receiving an enthusiastic show of hands.

Mr. Zhao presented XPeng AeroHT&#8217;s &#8220;land aircraft carrier,&#8221; a modular flying car designed for convenience. This vehicle combines ground transportation with flight, allowing seamless transition. Its unique modular design enables the flying component to detach from the ground vehicle, offering flexible mobility solutions.

The flying module is a two-seater aircraft, easy to operate, with Mr. Zhao stating it takes only five minutes to learn. It features vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL), can reach altitudes of 500 meters, and speeds of 360 kilometers per hour. The accompanying land component is a robust six-wheeled vehicle, ensuring stability.

XPeng AeroHT has developed various flying car models, including a two-seater flying motorcycle and a four-seater flying car. Mr. Zhao emphasized that XPeng AeroHT distinguishes itself by focusing on a modular design that addresses complexities and high costs of traditional flying car concepts. This approach simplifies usage, making aerial travel more attainable for a broader consumer base.

The company&#8217;s journey faced moments of near bankruptcy. However, perseverance led them to solve critical pain points in the flying car industry, such as operational difficulty and accessibility. Mr. Zhao highlighted China&#8217;s evolving regulatory landscape, particularly low-altitude airspace management, which increasingly supports flying car development.

This favorable environment, combined with China&#8217;s leadership in new energy vehicle R&amp;D, positions XPeng AeroHT to accelerate the growth of the flying car industry globally. Mr. Zhao envisions a future where urban transportation is a three-dimensional network, with flying cars becoming an integral part of daily life.

He confidently predicted this vision of widespread aerial mobility could materialize within the next decade, fundamentally changing how people commute and travel. The session concluded with Ms. Li expressing optimism that the future of flying cars is rapidly approaching, suggesting attendees might soon fly to Web Summit instead of enduring traffic.

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