Xpeng-backed flying car startup secures $500 million funding

HT Aero, the flying car company backed by Chinese electric carmaker Xpeng Inc. and its founder, raised more than $500 million from outside investors. The money will be put toward research and development and rolling out a new model that has the ability to operate in the air and on roads. Zhao Deli, Founder and President of HT Aero, said in a press release that the company’s next-generation model will be a “fully integrated flying vehicle and automobile, designed for both low-altitude air travel and road driving.”

The company is planning for an official roll-out of the new vehicle in 2024, Zhao said. However, he did not give a timeline for when the new vehicle will be launched. HT Aero is an affiliate company of Xpeng, one of China’s electric vehicle start-ups. Xpeng’s founder He Xiaopeng, as well as the electric car company itself, are investors in HT Aero.

The new funding round was led by high-profile venture capital firms IDG Capital and 5Y capital as well as Xpeng. Other investors include Sequoia China, Eastern Bell Capital, GGV Capital, GL Ventures, and Yunfeng Capital. Flying cars — also called electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles — have garnered a lot of interest from automakers and start-ups. Companies including South Korea’s Hyundai, German start-up Lilium, and China-based Ehang are developing flying passenger vehicles.

In July, HT Aero launched the X2, its second flying car prototype and first that’s able to carry a passenger. Xpeng’s founder in an interview last month reiterated that flying vehicles will be a part of the company’s future. Still, such vehicles face a number of hurdles to get off the ground including regulatory approval to operate.