XPENG AEROHT, Asia’s largest flying car company, has marked a major milestone in its global expansion with the first public manned flight of its Land Aircraft Carrier in Dubai. The event also coincided with the company’s rebranding as ARIDGE and a record-breaking order of 600 flying cars across the Middle East, bringing total global orders to more than 7,000.
Landmark flight and record orders in the Middle East
The public flight of the Land Aircraft Carrier in Dubai represents a significant step in XPENG AEROHT’s international journey. The company has signed purchase agreements with Ali & Sons Group in the UAE, Almana Group in Qatar, ALSAYER Group in Kuwait, and the Chinese Business Council in the UAE. This marks the largest overseas bulk order to date in the flying car sector. Consumer sales in the Middle East are expected to begin as early as 2027.
The event, attended by dignitaries including H.H. Sheikh Al Mur bin Maktoum Al Maktoum, H.H. Sheikh Humaid Abdulla Rashed Ahmed Almualla, and Ms. Ou Boqian, Consul General of China in Dubai, was covered by over 100 media outlets. It follows earlier milestones such as the X2’s first flight in the Middle East in 2022 and the company’s eVTOL debut at CES 2024.
XPENG AEROHT has been rapidly advancing through certification. In March 2024, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) accepted its Type Certificate application for the flight body of the Land Aircraft Carrier, codenamed X3-F. The CAAC also accepted its Production Certification application in May 2025, paving the way for regulatory review of its mass-production system. Deliveries of the modular flying car are scheduled to begin in 2026, supported by a new intelligent factory in Guangzhou capable of producing up to 10,000 units annually.
The Dubai demonstration, conducted entirely in manned mode, showcased the Land Aircraft Carrier’s controllability and reliability under real-world conditions. This followed XPENG AEROHT becoming the first Chinese flying car company to receive an overseas manned aircraft Special Flight Permit from the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) on 10 September, alongside a cooperation agreement with the Ras Al Khaimah Transport Authority.
“The Middle East is both a strategic market and a valued partner,” said Mr. Michael Du, CFO and Vice President of XPENG AEROHT. “With its growing role in global innovation and forward-looking policies, the region is the ideal launchpad for our globalisation journey.”
Rebranding as ARIDGE and future innovations
Building on its momentum, XPENG AEROHT has rebranded as ARIDGE, a name derived from “Air” and “Bridge” to reflect its mission of connecting the sky and earth. “Freedom to Fly has always been our mission,” said Mr. Zhao Deli, Founder of ARIDGE. “This rebrand marks our leap from vision to reality. With the new identity, we are creating a new category, building a low-altitude aviation ecosystem, and redefining the boundaries of mobility.”
The company has built a team of 1,200 R&D specialists and invested over US$600 million in personal aviation innovations. It has developed seven generations of products and filed 965 patents globally and in China, including 675 invention patents. ARIDGE is also developing the A868, a high-speed, long-range flying car featuring tiltrotor technology and a hybrid electrical powertrain. With a range exceeding 500 km, a top speed over 360 km/h, and a six-seat cabin, the A868 is designed for business travel and mobility services.
As part of the XPENG Motors ecosystem, ARIDGE benefits from strong synergies with the parent company, supporting its growth and the development of new mobility solutions.
Making flying as easy as driving
The Land Aircraft Carrier represents a new approach to personal transportation, combining road and air mobility in a single platform. Its modular design allows the air module, stored in the trunk of a ground vehicle, to detach and reattach autonomously with a single command. This innovation addresses challenges in mobility, recharging, and storage that have traditionally limited eVTOL adoption.
The air module features a large smart display in place of conventional aircraft dashboards and offers automatic and manual flight modes. In automatic mode, pilots can plan routes and manage take-off and landing with a single touch, supported by 3D vision, alerts, and landing assistance. Manual mode uses ARIDGE’s single-stick control system, the first of its kind for a flying vehicle, combining six operations into one joystick for one-handed control.
Safety remains central to ARIDGE’s design philosophy. The advanced flight control system enables pilots to override autonomous functions while maintaining stable flight. Redundant propulsion, power, communications, and flight control systems are built in, with automatic rotor failure response triggered in milliseconds.
“With our new brand, a landmark flight in Dubai, and the Land Aircraft Carrier entering mass production, we are bringing the extraordinary into everyday life,” added Mr. Du. “We are leading the low-altitude mobility revolution and invite global partners to work with us to build the ecosystem and open new markets, making the dream of flying cars a reality for people around the world.”
