Collision Clouds Xpeng’s Flying Car Ambitions
Xpeng’s futuristic flying cars suffered a jarring setback in China when two eVTOL prototypes collided mid-rehearsal, underscoring the fragile line between spectacle and safety in low-altitude aviation.
Two Xpeng Aeroht eVTOL craft collided during a rehearsal flight in Changchun, China, ahead of a scheduled air show. At least one individual was taken to hospital, though reports indicate their life is not in danger. The precise cause of the midair mishap remains unclear.
Xpeng Aeroht, the flying car subsidiary of EV maker Xpeng, has yet to issue an official statement, but Chinese outlet Guancha confirmed the incident, casting an unwelcome shadow over the company’s showcase planned for September 19.
The aircraft, designed to operate in both manual and autonomous modes, raise questions about whether a technical fault, flight coordination error or human mistake was to blame. The episode highlights a persistent challenge for the low-altitude aviation sector, where regulatory frameworks and safety standards lag behind those of conventional airspace.
Though the rehearsal was held without spectators, the crash serves as a stark reminder that electric vertical takeoff and landing machines are more than futuristic marketing spectacles. They inhabit a space where the risks are every bit as real as the promise.
