- The Xpeng Land Aircraft Carrier is a six-wheeled, range-extended EV van with seating for four.
- A folding aircraft deploys from the rear cargo and supports autonomous take-off and landing.
- Production is planned for late 2026, with approximately 7000 reported pre-orders.
Chinese EV maker Xpeng is pushing the definition of “people mover” with a pre-production van that carries something extra in the back: a personal aircraft.
Called the Land Aircraft Carrier, the six-wheeled electric van houses a folding, six-rotor drone capable of lifting a single occupant into the air. Production is planned for late 2026, and around 7000 orders have reportedly already been placed.
Van first, aircraft second
As a vehicle, the Land Aircraft Carrier is already unconventional. It features six driven wheels, coach-style rear doors and seating for four. Power comes from a range-extended electric setup, with Xpeng claiming a driving range upwards of 950km on a full charge.
The real headline, however, sits in the cargo area. Developed by Xpeng subsidiary Aridge, the compact aircraft folds neatly into the rear compartment, where it is stored and recharged. Deployment is described as a one-touch process, with the six rotors unfolding automatically.
The aircraft supports both autonomous take-off and landing as well as pilot-controlled flight.
Production planned for 2026
Like its flying car concepts, Xpeng insists this is more than a showpiece. Pre-production vehicles are already under way, and the company has indicated its factory is prepared for series production before the end of 2026.
Company leadership appears to be taking the project seriously, with reports that management staff have been instructed to learn how to operate the aircraft.
There are, inevitably, regulatory hurdles. Questions remain around licensing requirements, airspace approvals and export feasibility. While Xpeng already sells EVs in Europe, introducing a road-legal van that also deploys a personal aircraft presents an entirely different set of compliance challenges.
Still, the concept signals how far personal mobility ideas have shifted. Electric vertical take-off and landing technology is already entering niche markets, and Xpeng’s approach packages it directly into a family-sized van.
Whether it becomes a practical commuting tool or remains a high-tech novelty, the Land Aircraft Carrier is a reminder that the line between road and air is narrowing, at least on paper.
