XPeng Founder and CEO He Xiaopeng stated that the company has handed over its first Aridge flying car to United Arab Emirates partners and that the vehicle will soon begin test flights within the UAE's regulatory pilot zone, Electric Vehicles reported. Posting on social media platform X, He did not specify an exact date for the start of operations, noting that it had taken 13 years to turn the flying car concept into a reality.
The aircraft involved is the X3-F, the detachable two-seat flying module of the modular Land Aircraft Carrier system, which is transported and charged by a six-wheeled ground vehicle. The module was unveiled earlier in the week at Aridge's mass-production factory in Guangzhou during a visit by Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, alongside Aridge Founder Zhao Deli.
Chinese state media described the unit received by the delegation as a test aircraft, while Aridge characterized the occasion as a delivery to the UAE's advanced air mobility regulatory sandbox. According to the company, Sheikh Saud expressed satisfaction with the collaboration on advanced air mobility solutions in Ras Al Khaimah.
The company has not yet set a definitive timeline for the first flights. Aridge Chief Financial Officer Michael Du previously stated that flight testing under the Ras Al Khaimah regulatory sandbox could start as early as the beginning of 2027, subject to import procedures and final regulatory arrangements, followed by a six- to twelve-month phased evaluation program.
The vehicle has not yet received its Chinese type certificate, and Aridge leadership previously noted that customer deliveries would not take place in 2026. The testing initiative follows a cooperation agreement signed in September 2026 to evaluate personal low-altitude mobility and explore a potential demonstration route connecting Ras Al Khaimah and Abu Dhabi.
Sources
- Electric Vehicles · 2026-10-23
