Flying cars developed by Chinese companies are by design more feasible for commercial use than Tesla’s Roadster, according to an executive at Xpeng, after a recent demonstration by the US tech giant sparked discussion about tech leadership in mainland China.
Wang Tan, co-founder of Aridge, the affiliate of Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Xpeng, said Chinese companies had adopted different technologies than Tesla did.
While the Roadster’s mid-air flip and successful landing as seen in a live stream earlier this month was impressive, its jet-like configuration required high-pressure storage tanks, which severely limited cabin seating and application environments, Tan said.