XPENG's affiliated ARIDGE rolls out first unit of Land Aircraft Carrier's flying module

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On November 3, ARIDGE —the low-altitude mobility solution provider and flying car company affiliated to XPENG — announced that the first unit of its "Land Aircraft Carrier" modular flying car's flying module had rolled off the assembly line at its Guangzhou Huangpu plant.

The event marked the completion of the world's first mass-production line for flying cars and the launch of the first modern factory capable of producing such vehicles on an industrial scale.

Photo credit:  ARIDGE 

According to the company, the 120,000-square-meter facility is dedicated to producing the flying module of the "Land Aircraft Carrier." Once fully operational, it will have an annual capacity of 10,000 units, with an initial capacity of 5,000 units. It is also the world's first flying car plant designed for output at this scale — capable of completing one flying module every 30 minutes under full production.

The first trial-production batch will be used for testing and flight verification to further validate product performance and manufacturing processes, laying the groundwork for mass deliveries scheduled for next year.

The "Land Aircraft Carrier" flying car combines a futuristic off-road vehicle with a detachable aerial module. The ground vehicle features a 3-axle, 6-wheel configuration, measuring 5.5 meters in length, 2 meters in width, and 2 meters in height, with a four-seat layout operable under a standard Chinese C-class driver's license. It is powered by an 800V silicon carbide extended-range platform, offering a CLTC range exceeding 1,000 kilometers. The model also integrates a 6x6 all-wheel-drive system and rear-wheel steering, blending off-road capability with robust load capacity.

The flying module, stored within the vehicle's rear compartment, supports 18-minute fast charging (from 30% to 80%) and can complete up to five or six flight missions on a full charge and fuel tank. Designed with four propellers, the aircraft accommodates two passengers and offers one-touch automatic takeoff and landing as well as autonomous navigation. ARIDGE claims that users can master basic flight operations in as little as five minutes.

The "Land Aircraft Carrier" program has accelerated significantly this year. On March 21, 2024, its flying module (code-named X3-F) received acceptance for its Type Certification (TC) application from the Civil Aviation Administration of China ("CAAC") Central and Southern Regional Administration, moving it into the airworthiness certification phase.

In May, the company's application for a Production Certificate (PC) for the same model was also accepted by the CAAC, marking the start of regulatory review for its manufacturing system. By August, XPENG AEROHT (previous name for the ARIDGE)'s CEO Zhao Deli announced that the company's team of certified test pilots had officially begun operations, signaling the transition into large-scale flight testing.