Changan to Invest 20 Billion Yuan in Flying Car Development Over Next 5 Years

Chongqing - On December 21, Changan Automobile, a leading new energy vehicle (NEV) company from Chongqing Liangjiang New Area, and EHang, a pioneer in urban air mobility, signed a cooperation agreement to jointly develop flying cars.

At the signing ceremony, Changan Automobile Chairman Zhu Huarong shared that over the next five years, Changan will invest over 20 billion yuan (about 2.7 billion USD) into the low-altitude economy, aiming to fast-track the flying car industry. Looking ahead to the next decade, they plan to invest more than 100 billion yuan, exploring mobility solutions across land, sea, air, and even humanoid robots.

Passenger transportation is the most significant market in the low-altitude economy, said Yingzhao Pan, EHang’s Business Development Manager. Pan further explained that they aim to develop an eVTOL (electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing) aircraft as a transportation tool for everyone - not just a luxury toy for the wealthy.

Unmanned technology is indispensable to realizing the goal of making flying cars available to all. Pan noted that their passenger eVTOLs are pilotless and unmanned, so even a 10-year-old child or a 60- to 70-year-old senior can board and enjoy flying without extensive flight skills or certifications.

Flying cars go beyond just transporting passengers - they expand how we use vehicles. Huang Ruohan, Editor-in-Chief of Car314 Auto Network, explained that flying cars combine transport, dining, and entertainment. For instance, in camping areas unreachable by regular vehicles, they can retrieve items, deliver supplies, or capture footage in harsh environments, offering more value to users.

On December 21, at the signing ceremony between Changan Automobile and EHang, three flying cars were on display—arranged from front to back for passenger transport, firefighting, and logistics, respectively. (Photo/Changan Automobile)

The flying cars showcased on this occasion impress Huang with their diverse applications, such as passenger transport, high-rise firefighting, and logistics. She points out a robust demand for diversified modes of transportation in Chongqing, a “3D magical city” with complex terrain.

Huang believes that the low-altitude economy has a highly promising future. As technology continues to advance and more manufacturers and brands enter the field, the market is poised to expand while related technologies will steadily mature.

(Huan Ran, as an intern, also contributed to the report)