- This is a rare occurrence in the flying car sector, highlighting potential safety risks.
- At least one passenger was injured and transported to the hospital, with no life-threatening injuries reported, according to a report.
Xpeng Aeroht, Xpeng's (NYSE: XPEV) flying car unit, experienced an in-flight collision involving its eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft, highlighting safety risks in the sector.
On the afternoon of September 16, two Xpeng Aeroht eVTOLs collided and crashed at the Changchun Airshow in Jilin, northeast China, according to a report by local media outlet Guancha today.
At least one passenger was injured and has been hospitalized, with no immediate life-threatening injuries, the report cited on-site spectators as saying.
eVTOLs typically support both autonomous and manual control modes. The former may lead to accidents due to route planning flaws or equipment failures, while the latter carries risks of human operational errors, the report quoted an industry insider as saying.
The insider noted that this incident underscores the complexity of the environment for low-altitude economic operations, emphasizing that the industry must approach safety with utmost caution.
Xpeng Aeroht said in a response shared with CnEVPost that the incident occurred after the pre-show rehearsal for the Changchun Air Show.
The company said that two aircraft participating in a dual-aircraft formation drill collided due to insufficient separation distance. One aircraft landed normally, while the other sustained structural damage and caught fire upon landing.
Personnel at the scene were safe, and authorities have completed on-site response operations, Xpeng Aeroht said, adding that the specific cause is under further investigation.
Xpeng Aeroht originated in 2013 and was formally established in 2020 as the technology division majority-owned by Guangzhou-based Xpeng and its chairman and CEO He Xiaopeng.
At its Tech Day event on October 24, 2023, Xpeng said that Aeroht's flying car development path would encompass both eVTOL flying cars and modular flying cars.
The complete modular flying car system comprises a flying vehicle and a mother ship vehicle capable of recharging it.
Xpeng Aeroht aims to achieve mass production and delivery of the modular flying car by 2026, with a price cap of no more than RMB 2 million ($281,134), its founder and president Zhao Deli said at a September 3, 2024 press event.
($1 = RMB 7.1141)
Update: Added Xpeng Aeroht's response.
