- Chinese company is creating a new Wankel engine.
- Production of the single-rotor version starts in 2027.
- A twin-rotor version is already in development.
Not only are Chinese carmakers redefining the world of EVs, but one of them is now taking on the Wankel rotary engine. Originally designed by German engineer Felix Wankel and later refined into a signature Mazda technology, the rotary is now being reimagined by a subsidiary of Changan Automobile Group. Only this time, it isn’t heading for the road. It’s being built for the air.
The project comes from Harbin Dongan Auto Engine, which has developed a prototype single-rotor engine intended for low-altitude flight. That includes drones, as well as VTOL (vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft, which are gaining momentum in China’s expanding aerial mobility sector.
Read: The Rotary Engine Is Back In Production At Mazda
What Dongan has built is a prototype single-rotor engine, and while it’s not headline-grabbing in terms of power, it’s tailored to a very specific role. It revs up to 6,500 rpm and produces 53 kW, or 71 horsepower.
There’s nothing exotic about the redline, but the engine does include a cast aluminum housing and a nanodiamond composite non-friction coating, the latter suggesting a focus on efficiency and durability in airborne applications. A twin-rotor version is already under development, expected to double output to 110 kW, or 148 hp.
The rotary layout suits this kind of work. It’s compact, has an impressively high power-to-weight ratio, and runs quietly with minimal vibration, qualities that matter far more in flight than in daily driving.
Dongan isn’t stopping at one or two versions, either. It’s also working on rotary engines for medium and high-altitude UAVs, including both naturally aspirated and turbocharged variants. Partners include ARIDGE, the flying car division of Xpeng, as well as heavyweights like Huawei and DJI. Production of the new single-rotor engine is scheduled to begin in 2027.
Mazda’s Rotary Plans
Mazda, of course, is the company most often associated with the Wankel, even if it wasn’t the one to invent it. After decades of pushing the format, it finally shelved the design in 2012 due to tightening Euro 5 emissions rules. That wasn’t the end of the story, though.
In 2023, the rotary returned under the hood of the MX-30 R-EV, this time as a range-extender. In that setup, the single-rotor unit makes 74 horsepower and displaces 830 cc, not a powerhouse, but enough to charge the batteries.
Thankfully, a high-performance Wankel could be just around the corner. Earlier this year, Mazda unveiled its bold Vision-X Coupe, fitted with a turbocharged rotary engine, an electric motor, and a battery pack that work together to deliver a combined 503 horsepower. It’s still just a prototype, but it serves as a reminder that Mazda isn’t done yet with the rotary engine.
