Chinese Flying Cars

XPeng ($XPEV@China), the Guangzhou, China-based electric vehicle company, is exploring areas including flying cars and robotics, which could play a role in its longer-term goals. He Xiaopeng, the founder and CEO of XPeng, discussed why the Chinese Tesla rival is investing in robotics and flying modes of transport. Earlier this year, XPeng showed off a second prototype of a flying passenger car which it says has been in development for 8 years. The company wants to introduce a flying car that can take off or land vertically, a low-to mid-altitude flying car. Several auto companies, including Hyundai ($HYMTF@S.Korea) and China-based Geely ($GELYF@China), are also developing aerial vehicles. The X2, XPeng’s second flying car prototype and first that’s able to carry a passenger, was unveiled in July. The company plans a press conference a year from now to discuss the dimensions and pricing of the flying car and start taking pre-orders.