- The Land Aircraft Carrier van includes a working eVTOL drone.
- Xpeng will produce up to 10,000 units per year in Guangzhou.
- The van runs an 800V EV platform with a range-extender setup.
If you thought Lexus’ six-wheeled minivan concept was a wild one, a radical reimagining floated as a possible LS flagship replacement, wait until you see what Xpeng has been working on.
The Chinese tech company has developed a six-wheel minivan of its own, only this one takes things even further. Packed in the back is a fully functional eVTOL aircraft. And while Lexus is still firmly in the daydreaming phase, Xpeng is already preparing for customer deliveries later this year.
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The six-wheeler, originally known as the AeroHT and now branded the Land Aircraft Carrier, is coming to market via Xpeng’s newly formed Aridge division, which focuses on aerial vehicles.
From a distance, it might pass for a modified cargo van with oversized ambitions, but this machine has a very specific purpose: it’s been built to transport and house one of Xpeng’s electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft.
Ready for Takeoff
Xpeng is manufacturing both the Land Aircraft Carrier and its matching eVTOL at a dedicated facility in Guangzhou. Production will start with 5,000 units per year, with plans to double that to 10,000. To keep the build process simple, Xpeng will offer only three exterior paint choices: Stellar Silver, Moonrock Gray, and Supernova White.
How Much Does It Cost?
The entire package, van and aircraft included, will start at around 2 million yuan, or approximately $287,000 at current exchange rates. The van itself stretches about 5.5 meters (18 feet) in length, spans 2 meters (6.6 feet) in width, and stands 2 meters tall. It’s sizable, but not unwieldy, especially considering it’s designed to carry an entire flying vehicle in its cargo area.
Read: VW’s Chinese Partner Is Building Cheaper Cars In Europe To Beat VW
Technical specs on the van’s powertrain are still relatively sparse. What we do know is that it will run on an 800-volt electrical system and feature a range-extender EV setup. The company is targeting a driving range of more than 620 miles (1,000 kilometers).
In a clever bit of design integration, the van’s trunk will also serve as a charging station for the onboard aircraft.
Crash Raises Safety Concerns
Speaking of the aircraft itself, it’s made largely from carbon fiber and has six rotors. Although the eVTOL has received local airworthiness certification, a pair of prototypes collided with each other during a rehearsal flight at an airshow last September.
One of the aircraft crashed and burst into flames after the impact, but fortunately, no one was killed in the crash. However, the accident may erode some of the confidence those with an order have.
