It was a historic moment for Dubai on Monday when Xpeng, a Chinese technology and electric vehicle manufacturer, flew its X2 flying car for the first time on a public plane worldwide.
At Skydive Dubai, the X2 flying car completed its test flight, ushering in an exciting new era of short-haul flights and intelligent mobility.
Its maximum takeoff weight is 760kg and its empty weight is 560kg, with a maximum flight speed of 130km/h. Made from premium carbon fibre material and equipped with an airframe parachute, it offers 35 minutes of flight.
This futuristic electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle (eVTOL) has an intelligent flight control system and autonomous flight capabilities, making it the latest generation of flying cars. The X2 emits zero carbon dioxide and is designed with low-altitude city capabilities.
Li Xu Hang, Consul General of China in UAE, Hassan Al Hashemi, Acting President and CEO of Dubai Chambers, Dr Brian Gu, Vice Chairman and President of XPeng, and Mohammad Al Kamali, Deputy CEO of Dubai Industries and Exports attended the event.
XPeng has been working closely with Dubai International Chamber to explore wider international markets.
In conjunction with Gitex Global 2022, which is taking place at the Dubai World Trade Centre, a test flight was conducted.
Senior UAE officials visited Xpeng facilities in Guangzhou, China, earlier this year and invited the company to expand in the UAE.
It is possible to have commercial flying cars within 2-3 years
“This flying car is a luxury item and a lot of high net-worth individuals are looking for technology and such luxurious product. Dubai is the place where we have customers,” said Omar Abdulaziz AlKhan, executive director for international offices at the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Commenting on when the flying cars will be available for commercial use, he said: “It depends on how fast we can adopt the framework of urban commercialised flying. There will be more tests happening in Dubai and then it will be commercialised,” he said adding that in his personal opinion, it can be commercially deployed in the next two to three years in Dubai.
“Dubai Civil Aviation Authority is working with the company and shares its feedback regularly with Xpeng, which is taking feedback very actively,” he added.
“Dubai has become a magnet and testbed for companies from around the world that bring cutting-edge technologies to the market that support the emirate’s innovation strategy. The decision to debut the X2 flying car in Dubai is a testament to Dubai's position as a global innovation leader and hub for future technology,” said Hassan Al Hashemi.
“The next generation flying car will be intelligent, electric, vertical take-off and landing, air-land coupling. The product has begun to develop in 2020 and is scheduled to be mass-produced and delivered in 2024. We hope that our flying car will be a perfect match for Dubai, to jointly explore and build the future of 3D transportation, so that everyone can fly freely in the sky,” said Dr Gu.
Al Kamali said the government is committed to supporting firms that choose Dubai as their hub. “Opportunities are limitless here and we work with different communities and agencies to make things work here,” he said.