(Yicai) Oct. 14 -- The flying car unit of Chinese new energy vehicle startup Xpeng Motors will kick off sales in the Middle East in 2027.

Xpeng AeroHT plans to begin flying car mass production and delivery in China in the fourth quarter of next year, with sales to Middle Eastern clients expected for the following year, a company representative told Yicai.

Xpeng AeroHT recently signed agreements with three Middle Eastern companies -- Ali & Sons Holding from the United Arab Emirates, Almana Group from Qatar, and Alsyer Group from Kuwait -- and the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce in the UAE for the first batch of 600 Land Aircraft Carriers that will be delivered in the region.

So far, Xpeng AeroHT has received a total of 7,000 orders for its Land Aircraft Carrier modular flying car model.

On Oct. 12, Xpeng AeroHT conducted the world’s first manned public flight demonstration with the Land Aircraft Carrier in Dubai.

The Middle East not only offers a forward-looking policy environment and strong industrial support, but it also boasts a user base highly open to future modes of transportation, said Du Chao, chief financial officer and vice president of Xpeng AeroHT.

The global passenger electric vertical take-off and landing market is projected to reach USD225 million by 2040, according to a report by Boston Consulting Group. By then, the Middle Eastern passenger eVTOL market will hit USD11.7 billion, with personal eVTOLs accounting for nearly 85 percent of the total.

At the end of last month, Xpeng AeroHT completed construction at its manufacturing base. With an annual production capacity of 10,000 units, it is scheduled to officially begin production and delivery next year. Once at full capacity, the factory will be able to make a flying car every 30 minutes.

At the demonstration event in Dubai on Oct. 12, Xpeng AeroHT also showcased A868, a high-speed, long-range flying car under development, designed with a range of over 500 kilometers and a cruising speed exceeding 360 km per hour. It is expected to be unveiled in Guangzhou next month.

Editor: Futura Costaglione