CES 2025: We hopped into Xpeng Aero HT’s ‘flying car’

CES He likes a flying car, doesn’t he?

To this year consumer technology exhibitionWe take a look at the Xpeng Aero HT’s Land Aircraft Carrier, and get into the cockpit of the company’s modular eVTOL (that’s Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing for the uninitiated). An electric vehicle which is equally at home cruising the highway or flying in the sky? Quite, sure – but still CES flagship.

Let’s get one thing straight: the massive six-wheeled EV isn’t technically a flying car. The so-called “Mothership” of Xpeng – a minivan-like vehicle that gives strong Cybertruck vibes – don’t leave the ground. What is it does do, however, is to bring a two-seater eVTOL aircraft that really takes to the sky. However, it is undeniably cool. After speaking with co-founder and CEO Wang Tan, it’s obvious that Xpeng is all-in on its mission to give drivers the “freedom to fly.”

Here, the “Mothership” that holds the eVTOL.
Credit: Emmett Smith/Mashable

And it’s open!
Credit: Emmett Smith/Mashable

Because the Mothership is a near-final prototype, we can’t get a proper look inside. But we done get to sit in the two-person plane itself, where Tan walks us through the basics. Xpeng’s goal is to make flying as simple as possible. Controls are minimal – a one-handed joystick for maneuvering, automated flight systems for short, self-guided trips, and safety button controls conveniently located on the center console.

Xpeng Aero HT’s modular eVTOL seen at CES.
Credit: Emmett Smith / Mashable

But before you start dreaming of shooting through the city skylines, pump the brakes. Xpeng sees the eVTOL as more of a recreational escape, away from crowded urban areas. And let’s be real – most drivers can barely handle two sizes, let alone three. Oh, and you also need a Light Sport Aircraft license.

The Mothership and eVTOL combo boasts a combined range of 1,000 kilometers – just over 620 miles. But here’s the kicker: the EV isn’t just a ride; is a mobile charging station for the eVTOL. Together, they form Xpeng’s ambitious “phase 1” in the quest to make personal flight a reality. Phase 2? A car that really flies.

So far, Xpeng claims more than 3,000 orders of intent and plans to start shipping to China by 2026. As for the price tag? Get ready – the Land Aircraft Carrier is expected to cost somewhere around $300,000.

Hey, nobody ever said the future was good.

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