XPeng AeroHT’s ‘Land Aircraft Carrier’ hits latest certification milestone en route to mass production
AeroHT, the eVTOL and “flying car” business arm of XPeng, announced it is one step closer to bringing its “Land Aircraft Carrier” to customers in China. The powers that be accepted the unique NEV/eVTOL combo vehicle’s production certificate application, moving AeroHT toward its next step before mass production.
AeroHT is easily one of the most exciting electric mobility developers outside of the world of cars. That said, the aerial business arm of XPeng has already developed and demonstrated a real-life flying car called the X3.
While a Jetsons-like future remains far off, XPeng has been working toward scaling up the production of a second “flying car” called the Land Aircraft Carrier. This massive electrified vehicle houses a single-passenger electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft that can be deployed from the rear.
The Land Aircraft Carrier was initially scheduled to enter scaled production in 2025 ahead of customer deliveries in China, but AeroHT pushed those deliveries into 2026 as it continued work on a new facility to mass-produce the new model.
In March 2024, the EV/eVTOL combo vessel achieved airworthiness certification by the Civil Aviation Administration of Central and Southern China (CAAC). Since then, AeroHT has been performing crewed test flights and putting the production infrastructure in place to deliver the Land Aircraft Carrier to the masses.
With construction of the Land Aircraft Carrier’s new production facility nearly three-quarters complete, XPeng AeroHT announced its next certification milestone as progress toward a future of sustainable aerial travel continues.
Land Aircraft Carrier’s production certificate accepted
This week, AeroHT confirmed that the CAAC has accepted its production certificate application for the eVTOL component of its Land Aircraft Carrier. The latest milestone enables the Chinese aviation authorities to review XPeng AeroHT’s mass production practices next.
The production certification joins the eVTOL’s Type certification on AeroHT’s award wall, moving the latter certificate into the compliance confirmation phase—a step vital in the Chinese tech arm’s achieving its target of mass production and deliveries in China in 2026.
Per AeroHT, the Production Certificate indicates that it has established genuine production-quality systems for aerial mobility products that ensure that those vessels are manufactured in a safe and usable condition. The company shared that its production facility, which will assemble the Land Aircraft Carriers, is now 70% complete, with the construction of the main building for final assembly, paint shop, compounding shop, and joining shop all finished.
The company expects the new facility to be 100% complete in Q4 of this year. CnEVPost pointed out that although AeroHT’s Land Aircraft Carrier has achieved Type and Production Certification, it will still need an Airworthiness Certificate and Air Operator Certificate from the CAAC before starting any commercial flight operations in which it charges its passengers.
Xpeng Aeroht said it will continue to cooperate with the CAAC through the Type Certificate and Production Certificate validation process as it inches closer to mass production and customer deliveries. Last we heard, the Land Aircraft Carrier is expected to start at around $280,000.
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Chinese carmaker XPeng is getting perilously close to bringing its AeroHT consumer eVTOL concept to market, thanks to a $250 million Series B round that’s set to accelerate the company’s modular “flying car” production plans.
XPeng subsidiary AeroHT had its first successful proof of concept test flight ahead of the brand’s annual 1024 back in 2023, where the company unveiled a pair of flying car designs. The X3 is an actual flying “car” that can drive, park, and take off on its own, and a second, modular eVTOL that folds up into the back of an electric van called the Land Aircraft Carrier.
That vehicle pair, shown at CES in January, was set to begin production this year, with the eVTOL component set to begin production in 2026 – and that’s looking a lot more likely thanks to the new infusion of capital!
AeroHT at CES 2025
Xpeng Aeroht raised $150 million in Series B1 funding last August, before launching its Series B2 funding round. The most recent announcement that the company has secured an additional $100 million in its Series B2 funding round brings the total amount raised to more than $750 million, with a $1B pre-revenue valuation.
CNEVPost reports that company aims to establish itself as a commercial pioneer in urban air mobility ahead of a potential IPO – and may get there sooner than later, thanks to several hundred pre-orders at the $280,000 projected price.
Electrek’s Take
Scooter Doll said it best, writing, “this footage (of the AeroHT test flight) is as scary and concerning as it is exciting and awe-inspiring.” Which is to say that these things are real, they seem like they’re getting built, and they seem like they’ll sell well enough to convince at least one or two remaining boomers that the flying car they’ve been promised their whole lives is – finally! – coming to market.
Here’s hoping.
SOURCE: Xpeng, via CNEVPost; gallery photos by the author.
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Flooring manufacturer Beauflor USA just turned on the biggest rooftop solar system by capacity in metro Atlanta — and it’s now powering part of its Georgia factory.
The new 1,040 kW system in Cartersville officially beats metro Atlanta’s previous rooftop solar record of 1,034 kW. The new array produces enough energy to power more than 100 homes. The system is expected to cover about 10% of Beauflor’s electricity needs and cut its carbon emissions by about 920 metric tons annually.
“This solar installation represents our commitment to sustainable manufacturing practices while making sound business decisions,” said Emile Coopman, continuous improvement manager at Beauflor. He added that the system is designed with room to grow: “This is the first step toward more renewable energy.”
The company partnered with Cherry Street Energy to install the nearly 2,000-panel system, which was completed in less than four months. Cherry Street invested $1.8 million into the project and is covering all construction and maintenance costs through a 30-year energy procurement agreement. Beauflor will buy solar power directly from Cherry Street, allowing it to avoid upfront capital costs while still lowering its energy bills.
“As Georgia’s manufacturers ramp up production amid rising costs for grid energy, sophisticated operators seek ways to quickly and sustainably address their energy needs,” said Cherry Street CEO Michael Chanin. “On-site solar with no capital expense delivers just that: reliable, affordable electricity.”
Chanin added that the system’s power output is especially impressive: “The previous record-holder for metro Atlanta’s largest rooftop solar required over 4,000 panels. We’re using less than 2,000 to reliably generate even more power.”
Read more: This is New Jersey’s largest high-rise residential rooftop solar array
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Jack Dorsey, co-founder and chief executive officer of Twitter Inc. and Square Inc., listens during the Bitcoin 2021 conference in Miami, Florida, on Friday, June 4, 2021.
Eva Marie Uzcategui | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Block shares jumped more than 10% in extended trading on Friday, as the fintech company gets set to join the S&P 500, replacing Hess.
It’s the second change to the benchmark this week, after S&P Global announced on Monday that ad-tech firm The Trade Desk would be added to the S&P 500. Trade Desk is taking the place of software maker Ansys, which was acquired by Synopsys in a deal that closed Thursday.
Hess’ departure comes just after Chevron completed its $54 billion purchase of the oil producer, prevailing against Exxon Mobil in a legal dispute over offshore oil assets in the South American nation of Guyana.
Block will officially join the S&P 500 before the opening of trading on July 23, according to a statement from S&P. Stocks often rally when they’re added to a major index, as fund managers need to rebalance their portfolios to reflect the changes.
Most alterations to the S&P 500 take place during the index’s quarterly rebalancing. However, in the case of the closing of an acquisition, a company can be removed from the index and replaced off schedule. Last week monitoring software company Datadog took Juniper Networks’ place in the S&P 500 as part of the index’s quarterly change.
Block’s addition brings further tech heft to an index that’s been steadily moving in that direction in recent years, reflecting the market cap gains of companies across the sector. Block, which gained popularity as Square due to the rapid growth of the company’s payment terminals, has expanded into crypto, lending and other financial services.
Founded by Jack Dorsey in 2009, Square changed its name to Block in 2021 to emphasize its focus on blockchain technologies.
Block shares are down 14% this year, underperforming the broader U.S. market. The Nasdaq is up more than 8%, while the S&P 500 has gained 7%. Still, with a market cap of about $45 billion, Block is valued well above the median company in the index.
In May, Block reported first-quarter results that missed Wall Street expectations on Thursday and issued a disappointing outlook, leading to a plunge in the stock price. Block’s forecast for the second quarter and full year reflected challenging economic conditions that followed sweeping tariff announcements by President Donald Trump.
“We recognize we are operating in a more dynamic macro environment, so we have reflected a more cautious stance on the macro outlook into our guidance for the rest of the year,” the company wrote in its quarterly report.
The company is scheduled to report second-quarter results after the close of regular trading on Aug. 7.
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