During a rehearsal for an upcoming air show in Changchun, China, two flying cars collided mid-air, leading to one igniting upon landing. Xpeng AeroHT, the company behind the vehicles, assured that those present at the scene were safe, although one individual reportedly suffered injuries.
The rehearsal, aimed at showcasing the aviation technology, was part of the preparations for the air show set to begin later this week. Social media footage showed one of the vehicles engulfed in flames while emergency services responded.
Xpeng AeroHT confirmed that the vehicle sustained fuselage damage and caught fire upon landing, but stated all personnel at the site were safe, with local authorities managing the emergency response effectively.
The flying cars can take off and land vertically, with a projected price of around $300,000 each. Xpeng claims to have approximately 3,000 orders already in for the high-tech vehicles. As one of the largest electric vehicle manufacturers, Xpeng is ambitiously working to establish itself in the flying car market as well.
Despite significant technological hurdles and concerns over regulation and public readiness for flying cars, analysts note that China is eager to develop this 'low-altitude economy' in tandem with its booming electric vehicle industry. The future may hold more widespread use of such innovative transport solutions.
