Chery Unveils Autonomous Flying Car Prototype
China’s Chery Automobile Company has made a significant leap into the future of transportation with the successful test flight of its autonomous flying car. Earlier this year, Chery introduced this flying car prototype at the Chery Global Innovation Conference in Anhui, China. Named the “Land and Air Vehicle,” the futuristic model features full autonomous driving and operates without a steering wheel or accelerator.
Innovative Design: No Steering Wheel, No Gas Pedal
In addition to lacking a steering wheel, this innovative three-body hybrid-wing flying car is also designed without a gas pedal. More importantly, it consists of three key components: the aircraft, an intelligent cockpit, and an intelligent chassis. Together, these elements form a cohesive and futuristic vehicle.
Successful Test Flight: A Milestone in Urban Mobility
The test flight, which was a significant achievement, saw the vehicle complete a 50-mile journey in approximately 300 minutes. Notably, this marked a major milestone for Chery, showcasing the potential of autonomous aerial vehicles to revolutionize urban mobility. Furthermore, the car’s ability to navigate autonomously, avoiding obstacles and adapting to changing conditions, demonstrates the company’s advanced expertise in driver-assistance systems and artificial intelligence.
Introducing Kunpeng: Chery’s Advanced Solid-State Battery
In addition to the flying car prototype, Chery also introduced its advanced all-solid-state battery technology at the conference, launching a new battery brand called Kunpeng. Initially, Kunpeng will offer three battery series with 6C fast-charging capabilities. Chery aims to achieve an energy density of 400 Wh/kg in its solid-state batteries by the end of this year. Subsequently, they plan to increase this figure to 600 Wh/kg by 2025. The first car featuring these batteries is expected by 2026, with mass production starting in 2027, potentially extending EV ranges to 1,500 km.
Strong NEV Sales and Future Growth
Meanwhile, the battery series is set to be integrated into Chery’s NEVs (new energy vehicles) in the coming months. In fact, in September, Chery reported sales of over 60,000 NEVs out of a total of 244,534 vehicles sold. Looking ahead, company chairman Yin Tongyue expects NEV sales to reach 80,000 this month and 100,000 by the end of the year.
