- Flying car technology, developed and successfully test-flown in Europe, has been acquired by a Chinese company.
- The AirCar, powered by a BMW engine and conventional fuel, successfully completed a 35-minute flight between two airports in Slovakia in 2021.
- China is leading the way in the development of the EV revolution and is now actively developing flying transport solutions.
Klein Vision, a Slovakian company that created the AirCar, sold the exclusive rights to manufacture and use the aircraft within a “specific geographical region” of China to Hebei Jianxin Flying Car Technology Company.
Information about the AirCar
The AirCar, powered by a BMW engine and regular fuel, flew for 35 minutes between two Slovak airports in 2021.
It only took just over two minutes to transform from a car into an aircraft, utilising standard runways for take-off and landing.
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Successful acquisition by China
Cangzhou-based Hebei Jianxin Flying Car Technology has purchased the exclusive right to manufacture and use AirCar aircraft in an undisclosed area.
Stefan Klein, Chairman of the Board at Klein Vision, said: “We are pleased to announce the sale of the license for our certified flying car technology to the esteemed Chinese company.”
Development of EV technology in China
China is leading the way in the development of the EV revolution and is now actively developing flying transport solutions.
Last month, a company called Autoflight conducted a test flight of a passenger-carrying drone between Shenzhen and Zhuhai.
The company said the journey, which takes three hours, was completed in 20 minutes, even though there were no passengers on board.
Besides, eHang, a Chinese firm – received a safety certificate for its electric flying taxi in 2023, underscoring the nation’s commitment to embracing innovative transportation technologies.
Thoughts for the future
There are still considerable hurdles for this form of transport in terms of infrastructure, regulation, and public acceptance of the technology.
KleinVision declined to say how much it had sold the technology for. But the sale of AirCar’s technology has sparked reflection on China’s evolving role in the flying car market, recalling its leadership in electric vehicles.