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| Xpeng introduces a new electric plane |
The startup is a Chinese electric car maker, Xpeng, backed by the Alibaba Group, which has invested money in flying car technology as part of the company's long-term strategy.
Last Saturday, the electric car maker unveiled the first in a series of electric aircraft the company announced at the Beijing Auto Show.
The Kiwigogo vehicle has eight propellers and a capsule-shaped frame that looks more like a drone tThe startup is a Chinese electric car maker, Xpeng, backed by the Alibaba Group, which has invested money in flying car technology as part of the company'shan a flying car.
Xpeng Heitech, the technology holding arm of Xpeng, and CEO He Xiaopeng developed the prototype.
In a statement, Xpeng said that "Xpeng Heitech" is part of the company's long-term research and development and that its core business and development strategy has not changed.
It stated that (Xpeng Heitech) obtained 15 patents on its intellectual property in 7 years.
The company hopes to benefit from research in areas such as resolution technology and graphics technology.
According to the company, the aircraft can accommodate up to two passengers and its design height can range from 5 to 25 meters.
The project is still in the design stage and the company has said it will assess the size of the space before making any major investments.
Brian Go, vice president and chairman of Xpeng, told CNBC on Saturday in an interview with CNBC on the sidelines of the Beijing Auto Show on Saturday that it is an in-depth investigation of research and development and that we can look into travel issues on a larger scale.
"In the future, electric cars will not only benefit from smart travel through self-driving, but they will also use other technologies to build a multi-dimensional ecosystem with other devices. This is why we are investing and exploring in this area," he added.
Regulations have always been a major barrier to the development of drones and autonomous vehicles.
Xpeng is a $ 1.7 billion private equity startup that raised $ 1.5 billion in its August initial public offering, which is a rising competitor to Tesla in the electric vehicle market.
Other automakers such as Toyota and Geely, Volvo's owners, are looking for similar technologies while GM researches the air taxi market.