Two XPeng AeroHT eVTOLs Collide and Crash at Airshow Rehearsal in China

Eyewitnesses said at least one passenger was injured and taken to hospital, though the injuries are not considered life-threatening.

On September 16, two eVTOLs (electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles) developed by XPeng AeroHT collided during a formation rehearsal at the Airshow in Changchun, Jilin Province, China. One of the aircraft subsequently crashed and caught fire.

A burning electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle (eVTOL) on a grassy field with smoke rising, emergency responders and fire truck in the vicinity. — Two eVTOLs developed by XPeng AeroHT collided during an airshow

Eyewitnesses said at least one passenger was injured and taken to hospital, though the injuries are not considered life-threatening.

eVTOLs, often referred to as “flying cars,” can typically operate in both autonomous and manual (remote-controlled) modes. Industry experts note that autonomous operation carries risks related to flight-path planning or technical malfunctions, while manual control is susceptible to human error.

XPeng AeroHT stated that the incident occurred after the day’s rehearsal had concluded, when two aircraft came into contact due to insufficient spacing. One vehicle landed safely, while the other suffered structural damage during landing and caught fire.

Crowd of spectators observing a smoke plume rising from a crash site during an airshow, with tents and signage visible in the foreground. — Two eVTOLs developed by XPeng AeroHT collided during an airshow

All personnel at the scene were promptly attended to, and the cause of the accident remains under investigation.

Founded in 2020, XPeng AeroHT is a technology subsidiary of Guangzhou-based XPeng Motors, controlled by XPeng Chairman and CEO He Xiaopeng. The company’s roadmap for flying cars includes both eVTOL and modular vehicle solutions, with an official price cap of RMB 2 million ($281,000).

On the funding side, XPeng AeroHT raised $250 million in a Series B round in July, bringing its cumulative financing to over $750 million. The proceeds are earmarked for R&D and scaling up mass production.

A futuristic electric vehicle on a rocky landscape with a drone flying above it and mountains in the background. — Xpeng AeroHT’s eVTOL

At the Munich Motor Show on September 8, He Xiaopeng disclosed that XPeng AeroHT has invested around $600 million over 12 years of development, completing seven generations of prototypes.

According to its plan, the company will conduct the global debut flight of its “land aircraft carrier” flying car in Dubai this October. In China, the model has already secured nearly 5,000 orders, with mass production scheduled for 2026.