Flying cars have always been present in the popular imagination when thinking about the future. But, now, What was just an idealization becomes reality. The X2 “flying car” made its first flight to the public this Tuesday, 11, in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates.
A select group of 150 people can witness the flight of 90 minutes in an action at the Gitex Global innovation and technology fair 2022. As it was a test flight, the presentation was authorized by the Dubai Civil Aviation Agency.
Short distance flights
Just to be safe, no driver drove the car, which was monitored by external commands. Being another example of eVTOL (electric vehicle), the innovation was developed and manufactured by Xpeng AeroHT, Chinese electrical products company.
The X2 was planned to fly over short distances and at low altitude in metropolises. For these reasons, the vehicle can accommodate up to two passengers, arrives at 130 km/h and has 35 minutes of autonomy. The machine was designed with parachute deployment and has direct contact with the command center in cases of emergency..
The Chinese car works very similar to a drone, but with structure, superior capabilities and functionalities. To fly, has eight engines and four propellers. Two motors are located in each corner of the car to drive the propeller located there..
Innovation takes off and lands vertically, moving upward, down and in straight lines. Nonetheless, can be driven in both models: automatic and manual.
International expansion
The choice of Dubai is part of Xpeng's marketing and launch strategy, which seeks to market the novelty to different countries. The city is considered the most innovative in the world and would be a gateway to other global partnerships.
“We are going step by step towards the international market”, disse Minguan Qiu, general manager at Xpeng. The idea is to also use the machine for tourist flights and transporting products and small loads., like medicines.
Brazil will also have its flying car
Despite the public presentation, Xpeng did not disclose a date or deadline for commercializing its newest product. Nonetheless, The idea of a flying car is something old on the global stage. There are already several companies and industries working to launch their own vehicles in the coming years..
An example is Renault, which already has a project underway. Not Brazil, Whoever takes the lead in this market is EVE, Embraer subsidiary. The company estimates that in 2026 your eVTOL is already launched and in operation.
