On Monday, the Chinese tech firm XPeng Aeroht publicly tested its electric flying car, the XPeng X2, for the first time in Dubai.
According to a press release, the flight took place on the opening day of GITEX GLOBAL 2022 in front of 150 spectators at Skydive Dubai.
On its Instagram page, XPeng Aeroht posted a video of the “immersive flight experience” and invited fans to “take a ride” in the X2 flying car in the United Arab Emirates‘ capital.
“X2 flying car’s first public flight was a great success,” the firm captioned its post, adding, “Thanks for all the support!”
“Today’s flight is a major step in XPENG’s exploration of future mobility,” Gu added.
The press release also claimed that the flying taxi could operate in manual and autonomous modes and doesn’t emit carbon dioxide into the air.
“The flying car is the epitome of ambition, innovation, and future-oriented vision that has always inspired Dubai and its leadership,” Al Hashemi explained. “Today, we witnessed a historic moment that will define the next 50 years.”
According to the Associated Press, several challenges still need to be resolved before flying taxis can start transporting passengers throughout Dubai and probably other cities worldwide. These issues include vehicle battery life, infrastructure, and air traffic control.
Though it’s unknown when the flying taxi will be made accessible to the general public, the future still seems promising.
Trixie LohMirmand, Executive Vice President of Events Management at Dubai World Trade Center and GITEX GLOBAL’s organizer, said, “Electric flying cars are the future of travel, and it is incredible to witness history in the making today.”
