Weather of Arabia - A "flying car" manufactured by the Chinese company Xping for electric cars took off on its first public flights in the United Arab Emirates, with the company seeking to launch the electric air vehicle in global markets.
The vehicle maker described the 90-minute test flight on Monday as "an important foundation for the next generation of flying cars".
The X2 is an electric vehicle with vertical take-off and landing and includes two seats. It relies on eight propellers, with two in each corner of the vehicle. The flying car weighs 700 kilograms and travels 140 kilometers in 45 minutes.
"It is expected that the new generation of these new flying cars will be ready in 2024, and in 2026 we will witness more flight tests," said Omar Al-Khan, Executive Director of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The elegantly designed vehicle can carry two passengers and operate with a set of eight propellers. The company says its top speed is 130 kilometers per hour.
"We are going step by step towards the global market," said Minjuan Zhou, general manager of Xpeng Aerot. "We chose Dubai first because Dubai is the most innovative city in the world," he added.
China's Xping believes it will be "ideal" for short-distance city trips, such as sightseeing and transporting medical supplies.
It is expected to cost the same as a luxury car, such as a Bentley or Rolls Royce, and be on the market by 2025.
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