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Tech · ARIDGE's flying car

Flying vehicles

ARIDGE's flying cars (ARIDGE was XPeng AeroHT): the Land Aircraft Carrier, a road vehicle that carries a small aircraft, and the larger A868.

What shareholders own

ARIDGE is not an XPeng subsidiary: XPeng's filings describe it as an associate of He Xiaopeng, XPeng's chairman, and a company he significantly influences. [1, 2, 3]

  • XPeng holds minority preferred shares in it, bought for RMB24.6m in January 2021 and US$90m in October 2021 (US$20m of it a bond, converted into shares in 2024).

Where it stands

Land Aircraft Carrier (X3-F aircraft)

Trial production, no type certificate

Batch trial production since 5 Mar 2026 · deliveries target 2027

4 earlier steps

  1. Research

    First shown at XPeng's Tech Day: a six-wheeled road vehicle that carries an aircraft [4, 5]

  2. Demonstration

    First showing in Guangzhou, with the aircraft flying in public [5]

  3. Permit or certificate

    UAE special flight permit for manned test flights [6]

  4. Production

    First aircraft off ARIDGE's Guangzhou line, in trial production [7]

  1. Production

    Batch trial production: five aircraft built in one day [8]

  2. Plan or target

    Founder Zhao Deli moves first deliveries to 2027 (none in 2026) [9]

A868 (six-seat tilt-rotor)

Prototype; first flew Nov 2025

Shown 5 Nov 2025 · six seats · aims for 500 km and 360 km/h

  1. Demonstration

    First shown at XPeng's Tech Day; the prototype first flew in November 2025 [10, 7]

What's ahead

12–18 Oct 2026"Flying cars" on XPeng's Paris Motor Show standAnnounced

XPeng's release of 30 Sep 2026 says its Paris stand will show its "Physical AI lineup", including flying cars. [11]

End-2026ARIDGE sales and service centre in ChengduPlanned

ARIDGE signed with Chengdu on 31 Aug 2026 for a centre of about 2,000 m² for display, sales, delivery, service, flying and training, to be built by the end of 2026 and then run on trial. [12]

As early as H2 2027ARIDGE: flying demonstration zone in ChangshaTarget

Zhao Deli said on 24 Sep 2026 he expects a flying demonstration zone in Changsha as early as the second half of next year: a zone, not deliveries or public flights. [13]

As early as 2027ARIDGE: entry into the Middle EastTarget

ARIDGE said on 12 Oct 2025, in Dubai, that it plans to enter the Middle East market as early as 2027. [14]

2027Land Aircraft Carrier: large-scale productionTarget

Brian Gu, XPeng's co-president, told Reuters on 23 Apr 2026 that large-scale production of the flying car should start next year. [15]

2027First deliveries of the Land Aircraft CarrierTarget

ARIDGE's founder Zhao Deli, published 27 Aug 2026: no deliveries this year, "aiming to deliver next year"; ARIDGE is "at the critical stage" of obtaining the airworthiness certificate. [9]

In the Management Tracker →

How it got here

  1. Type certificate application accepted by China's aviation regulator [16]

  2. First public showing, the aircraft flying [5]

  3. Batch trial production: five aircraft in one day [8]

  4. Listed for faster review on China's first fast-track certification list [17, 18, 19]

  5. Founder: no deliveries in 2026; aiming for 2027 [9]

Explore the evidence

Full dated history

  1. Plan or targetLand Aircraft Carrier (X3-F aircraft)

    ARIDGE's founder Zhao Deli expects a flying demonstration zone in Changsha as early as H2 2027, and says flying taxis for ordinary people are at least five years away.

    Media 三湘都市报, Zhao Deli at Yuelu Conference; Media 三湘都市报, Zhao Deli on flying taxis

  2. Plan or targetLand Aircraft Carrier (X3-F aircraft)

    ARIDGE signs an agreement with Ras Al Khaimah for a regulatory test zone (a "sandbox") under the UAE civil aviation authority's supervision, and starts planning an Abu Dhabi–Ras Al Khaimah demonstration route.

    ARIDGE, UAE sandbox

  3. DemonstrationLand Aircraft Carrier (X3-F aircraft)

    Two of the aircraft fly in formation at Qasr Al Watan, Abu Dhabi.

    ARIDGE, UAE sandbox

  4. DemonstrationLand Aircraft Carrier (X3-F aircraft)

    The Land Aircraft Carrier stands on XPeng's IFA Berlin stand (4–8 Sep); XPeng Germany calls it a modular mobility concept.

    XPeng Germany, IFA 2026 · 27 Aug 2026

  5. Plan or targetLand Aircraft Carrier (X3-F aircraft)

    ARIDGE signs with Chengdu's economic development zone for a sales and service centre of about 2,000 m², to be built by the end of 2026 and then run on trial.

    ARIDGE, Chengdu centre · 1 Sep 2026

  6. Plan or targetLand Aircraft Carrier (X3-F aircraft)

    ARIDGE's founder Zhao Deli, in an interview published that day: "We cannot deliver this year"; ARIDGE is at the critical stage of the airworthiness certificate and aims to deliver next year.

    Media Sina, interview with Zhao Deli

  7. DemonstrationLand Aircraft Carrier (X3-F aircraft)

    Jordan's King Abdullah II watches a manned flight and the aircraft separating from and rejoining the road vehicle, in Shenzhen.

    ARIDGE, Jordan demonstration

  8. ProductionLand Aircraft Carrier (X3-F aircraft)

    The 1,000th electric propulsion unit is built (six per aircraft; the count covers the pilot and the series plants). ARIDGE says 200+ aircraft have been put into testing.

    ARIDGE, 1,000th propulsion unit

  9. RegulatorLand Aircraft Carrier (X3-F aircraft)

    China's aviation regulator posts for public notice its first fast-track list for manned eVTOL certification: ARIDGE, EHang, Volant and AutoFlight. A process benefit, not a certificate. Full item →

    Media CnEVPost, eVTOL list; Media Tencent News, eVTOL list; Media Sina Finance, eVTOL list

  10. Company

    XPeng earned RMB50.3m in H1 2026 (RMB89.6m in 2025) for operational support to the Huitian (ARIDGE) companies: service fees, not aircraft sales.

    Interim report 2026 · 28 Sep 2026; 20-F 2025 · 16 Apr 2026

  11. Plan or targetLand Aircraft Carrier (X3-F aircraft)

    Serbia's president meets Zhao Deli; both intend a national low-altitude demonstration zone around Expo 2027 in Belgrade.

    ARIDGE, Serbia

  12. Plan or targetLand Aircraft Carrier (X3-F aircraft)

    Brian Gu, XPeng's co-president, tells Reuters: early deliveries late in 2026, large-scale production in 2027, more than 7,000 orders.

    Media Reuters, Brian Gu

  13. ProductionLand Aircraft Carrier (X3-F aircraft)

    Battery maker CALB starts series production of the aircraft's battery in Chengdu.

    Media CnEVPost, CALB aviation batteries

  14. ProductionLand Aircraft Carrier (X3-F aircraft)

    Batch trial production begins: five aircraft built in one day at ARIDGE's Guangzhou plant, a step before series production.

    ARIDGE, trial production

  15. DemonstrationA868 (six-seat tilt-rotor)

    XPeng's Tech Day: the A868, a six-seat tilt-rotor with a range extender, is shown for the first time; ARIDGE says the prototype first flew in November.

    ARIDGE, A868 unveiled; XPeng, Tech Day 2025

  16. ProductionLand Aircraft Carrier (X3-F aircraft)

    The first aircraft comes off ARIDGE's Guangzhou line in trial production. Planned capacity: 10,000 a year, 5,000 at first.

    XPeng, Tech Day 2025

  17. DemonstrationLand Aircraft Carrier (X3-F aircraft)

    A public manned flight in Dubai, and the ARIDGE brand launches. Purchase agreements for 600 aircraft with four Gulf parties; 7,000 orders in all, of mixed kinds.

    ARIDGE, Dubai launch

  18. DemonstrationLand Aircraft Carrier (X3-F aircraft)

    Two aircraft collide during a rehearsal at the Changchun Air Show; one lands normally, the other is damaged and catches fire on landing. ARIDGE: personnel safe; CnEVPost: at least one person hospitalised, not life-threatening.

    Media CnEVPost, Changchun collision

  19. Permit or certificateLand Aircraft Carrier (X3-F aircraft)

    UAE aviation authorities grant a special flight permit for manned test flights across the UAE, presented in Ras Al Khaimah; it is not a type certificate.

    ARIDGE, UAE flight permit

  20. Plan or targetLand Aircraft Carrier (X3-F aircraft)

    XPeng–Huitian deal for 2026–28: in series production XPeng makes the flying cars, sells them to Huitian at parts cost plus RMB12,000, and earns RMB18,000 a car plus RMB71,000 per car sold in its stores; mass production then due in 2026.

    XPeng 6-K, 22 Aug 2025

  21. RegulatorLand Aircraft Carrier (X3-F aircraft)

    The CAAC accepts the production certificate application; ARIDGE says it will strive for mass production and deliveries in 2026.

    ARIDGE, production application

  22. Plan or targetLand Aircraft Carrier (X3-F aircraft)

    An ARIDGE spokesperson says it aims to finish compliance checks and obtain the type certificate in October 2025; the price will be at most RMB2m.

    Media IT之家, TC target

  23. RegulatorLand Aircraft Carrier (X3-F aircraft)

    The CAAC publishes draft certification rules for the aircraft: a light sport aircraft for private flying and training, not paid passenger flights; 20 km range, 20 minutes.

    CAAC, X3-F special conditions (draft)

  24. Plan or targetLand Aircraft Carrier (X3-F aircraft)

    First showing abroad, at CES in Las Vegas; the plan is mass production and deliveries in 2026.

    XPeng, CES 2025

  25. DemonstrationLand Aircraft Carrier (X3-F aircraft)

    Flight at the Zhuhai Airshow; pre-orders open with an RMB20,000 deposit, refundable after the official launch.

    Media Sina Tech, Zhuhai pre-orders

  26. DemonstrationLand Aircraft Carrier (X3-F aircraft)

    The aircraft makes its first flight with a person aboard (reported 28 Oct).

    XPeng, flying-car plant

  27. BuildingLand Aircraft Carrier (X3-F aircraft)

    Building starts on ARIDGE's aircraft plant in Guangzhou, planned for 10,000 aircraft a year.

    XPeng, flying-car plant

  28. DemonstrationLand Aircraft Carrier (X3-F aircraft)

    The Land Aircraft Carrier is shown for real for the first time, in Guangzhou, and its aircraft flies in public.

    XPeng, Guangzhou showing

  29. RegulatorLand Aircraft Carrier (X3-F aircraft)

    China's aviation regulator accepts the type certificate application for the aircraft; the road vehicle is to be approved as a car.

    XPeng, certificate application

  30. Plan or targetLand Aircraft Carrier (X3-F aircraft)

    At CES, ARIDGE's co-founder Wang Tan targets mass production and deliveries from Q4 2025.

    XPeng, CES 2024

  31. Plan or targetLand Aircraft Carrier (X3-F aircraft)

    First XPeng–Huitian agreement: XPeng to make the road vehicles and assemble the whole; mass production then expected in Q4 2025.

    XPeng 6-K, 2 Jan 2024

  32. ResearchLand Aircraft Carrier (X3-F aircraft)

    At XPeng's Tech Day, ARIDGE first shows the split design it is developing: a road vehicle that carries an aircraft.

    XPeng, CES 2024 · 10 Jan 2024; XPeng, Guangzhou showing · 4 Sep 2024

Plain words
Land Aircraft Carrier
A six-wheeled road vehicle with a range extender that carries a two-seat battery aircraft (the X3-F) in its rear bay.
eVTOL
An electric aircraft that takes off and lands vertically, like a large drone that carries people.
Type certificate
The aviation regulator's approval of an aircraft's design: one of the approvals needed before it can be sold in China.
Production certificate
The regulator's approval for a factory to build certified aircraft in series.
Details & sources

Every fact is dated by the time it describes; a figure by when it was first stated. A product line shows only the steps it has reached, each dated and sourced. The step “Plan or target” (a hollow ring) records when a target was set; it never counts as progress, and what it aims for is under What's ahead, never shown as reached. Where XPeng's Chinese and English differ, the Chinese stands. What XPeng reported, what it targets, what others say and XPulse's own arithmetic are kept apart and labelled. Research as of 5 Oct 2026.

Research as of 5 Oct 2026