Chinese brands showcased their efforts to create “flying cars,” small electric aircraft powered by multiple rotors designed for short journeys.

“We want to give the car wings,” said Wang Tan, co-founder of carmaker Xpeng’s aeronautical unit.

Xpeng’s Land Aircraft Carrier, an electric car that contains a fold-out, two-seat electric aircraft, should go into mass production in 2026 and be on sale in China for less than 2 million yuan ($281,000).

Uses include rescue from locations where access is difficult, such as in heavy traffic or from tall buildings, Wang said.

GAC’s flying car unit Govy meanwhile showed off its AirCab, a two-seater self-driving electric aircraft with a top-speed of 120 km/h and a range of up to 30 kilometers.

“It is quieter than a helicopter and better meets people’s needs,” Govy spokeswoman Li Shuhan said. “It’s also cheaper.”

They can keep it.

I won’t say you’re wrong, but what’s the point of being a multi-millionaire if you can’t buy your kids neat toys!

In addition to all the other safety issues, I wonder if it auto-lands when it’s running out of fuel.

Grasshoppers begat Falcon 9.

Closer to this:
https://venturebrothers.fandom.com/wiki/Hover_Bikes?file=VB_Hover_Bikes.jpg

Pretty lame

Dollars to donuts people said the same thing about automobiles around 1900. This is not that, and the price is . . . prohibitive for the average Josephine, but as soon as a 2nd prototype is complete, there’s going to be a race. And that’s where the money likely is for these machines. Thoroughbreds cost much more to own and race, and they don’t last 10 minutes.

I think the video demonstrates that the exhaust temp is tolerable at around 10 – 15 meters. Wouldn’t want to ride over dry ground cover, though. Or a person. Speaking of exhaust temps, I’m wondering how long before someone fits an afterburner.

With a 10 minute maximum flight time (probably with a very light-weight rider; and a maximum passenger weight of 200 pounds) it’s just an interesting toy for the kids of multi-millionaires.