Two electric flying cars built by Xpeng AeroHT crashed into each other during a rehearsal for an upcoming air show in north-east China, a dramatic mishap at what was meant to be a showcase for cutting-edge technology.
The mid-air collision occurred on Tuesday as the vehicles prepared for the Changchun Air Show. One of the craft caught fire after landing, the company confirmed in a statement to Reuters.
Xpeng said everyone at the scene was safe, but CNN cited an anonymous company employee who reported one person had been injured. BBC News said it had contacted Xpeng for further comment.
Footage posted on Chinese social media platform Weibo appeared to show one of the vehicles on fire on the ground as fire engines responded.
“One vehicle sustained fuselage damage and caught fire upon landing,” Xpeng AeroHT said in a separate statement to CNN. “All personnel at the scene are safe, and local authorities have completed on-site emergency measures in an orderly manner,” it added.
Xpeng’s electric flying cars, which can take off and land vertically, are priced at around $300,000 (£220,000) each. In January, the company said it had received roughly 3,000 orders.
Xpeng, one of the world’s largest electric vehicle manufacturers, has recently expanded into Europe. Its AeroHT subsidiary is responsible for the development of the flying cars.
The crash underscores the challenges facing this emerging mode of transport, from infrastructure and regulation to public acceptance. Analysts say China hopes to mirror its success in the electric vehicle sector by pushing early adoption of low-altitude flight technology. The government has declared its ambition to lead the world in the “low-altitude economy.”
Last year, a pioneering European flying car company was acquired by a Chinese firm.
