Forget Elon Musk’s Tesla Roadster ‘Rocket’ — a Chinese rival has 7,000+ orders for its nearly $300K flying car, due 2027 Chris Morris Sat, November 14, 2026 at 7:05 AM EST 4 min read TSLA XPEV TM DAL UAL Explore stocks on Coinbase Trading disclosure Trading disclosure The above button links to Coinbase. Yahoo Finance is not a broker-dealer or investment adviser and does not offer securities or cryptocurrencies for sale or facilitate trading. Coinbase pays us for certain activity generated through this link. Prices displayed are informational.
Even though Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) just showed off its rocket-powered Roadster, which can propel itself into the air and perform acrobatics, the 21st century has so far suffered from a true dearth of flying cars despite the predictions of futurists — but that could change next year.
The CEO of Chinese flying car company XPeng says the company's low-altitude vehicle will be available to customers living in rural locations, as well as emergency services, in the second half of 2027. That's a little later than planned, but still represents a big step for people who have dreamed of flying cars since childhood.
Jeff Bezos backs a platform that lets anyone invest in rental homes for as little as $100 — 5 ways to build wealth like a landlord without actually being one
Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake. Here's what it is and 3 simple steps to fix it ASAP
A single line on your car insurance policy could be inflating your premium by up to 30% — here's what to change
Xpeng's vehicle will sell for $300,000; as you might expect, though, it likely won't be sold in the U.S. anytime soon due to a host of regulatory and political reasons.
It's also not what you might be imagining. Xpeng's device is actually two vehicles — a six-wheel van that can be driven on roadways, that houses a two-seat deployable flying car in, for lack of a better word, its trunk. The "flying" part of the flying car is closer to a helicopter and has no wheels.
While Xpeng's vehicle might not be what people envisioned when it comes to flying cars, it's not the only one that's in the prototype phase.
In March, the U.S. Department of Transportation approved eight pilot programs across 26 states that allowed eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft to begin real-world testing. That will allow for air-taxi service in select cities, while data from the pilot companies will be used to help the FAA develop regulations to let this technology scale while keeping airspaces over cities safe.
Like the Xpeng, eVTOL vehicles aren't street-legal, but they do help passengers avoid gridlock and rush hour issues by soaring over the highways, resulting in a much shorter ride. Big corporations have invested hundreds of millions of dollars into them to ensure they become a reality. Toyota (NYSE:TM), for instance, spent $500 million to buy into Joby in October 2024. Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) is also an investor, investing $80 million into Joby. United (NASDAQ:UAL), meanwhile, in 2022, invested $10 million in Archer Aviation and $15 million in Eve Air Mobility.
Read More: Vanguard reveals what's coming for U.S. stocks — and it could be bad news for this group of investors
As you might expect, Elon Musk isn't sitting this out. Last month, Tesla showed off a prototype vehicle that used high-pressured bursts of gas to flip mid-air, though there are voluminous unanswered questions about the vehicle, including whether it will actually be made, what it will cost and where (if it is real) it can be flown.
Xpeng's vehicle is real, but it still faces some of the restrictions that could hamstring Tesla. The flying part of the flying car won't be able to fly in cities initially. It will be limited to approved park areas and inaccessible areas for emergency services workers. But it's a first step — and CEO Deli Zhao says they'll be available beyond China soon.
"All cars in the future will grow wings and all transportation will move from two dimensions to three dimensions," he said, adding he had signed agreements with the United Arab Emirates and countries in south-east Asia as well. "We aim to enter the European market as soon as possible."
Millionaires under 45 keep two-thirds of their wealth out of stocks. Here's where their money is actually going
The tax breaks in Trump's 'big beautiful bill' expire after 2028. Here are 4 moves to make before the window closes
Here are the 7 top habits of 'quietly wealthy' Americans. How many do you follow?
Your cash is rotting in a regular savings account. Here are 4 simple ways to grow your money (and no, you don't have to touch the stock market)
Join 250,000+ readers and get Moneywise's best stories and exclusive interviews first — clear insights curated and delivered weekly. Subscribe now.
This article originally appeared on Moneywise.com under the title: Forget Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster 'Rocket' — a Chinese rival has 7,000+ orders for its nearly $300K flying car, due 2027
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
