"Xpeng Motors" New Brand Launch, Land Aircraft Carrier Secures Largest Overseas Order in Middle East | Xinxing PORTFOLIO
Officially embarking on the path to globalization.
On October 12 local time, Xpeng Motors held the first international showcase of its "Land Aircraft Carrier" in Dubai, where the vehicle completed its first overseas crewed public flight demonstration, officially kicking off its global expansion.
The "Land Aircraft Carrier" aircraft flying over Dubai's Palm Jumeirah
At the launch event, the international brand "ARIDGE" was officially unveiled, alongside a new logo inspired by the Chinese character for "fly" (飞). Xpeng Motors also announced that its flying car manufacturing base in Guangzhou was fully completed by the end of September, laying the production groundwork for the 2026 delivery target. Notably, at this international showcase, the company signed the Middle East's first batch purchase agreement for 600 flying cars with UAE-based Ali & Sons Group, Qatar's Almana Group, Kuwait's AlSayer Group, and the UAE Chinese Business Council — setting a record for the largest overseas bulk order in the sector.
Multiple members of Dubai's royal family, Chinese Consul General in Dubai Ou Boqian, local overseas Chinese, and over a hundred media outlets from around the world attended the event to witness this milestone.
Scene from the "Land Aircraft Carrier" first international showcase
In her address, Consul General Ou Boqian stated: "Xpeng Motors' inaugural flight here represents not just commercial success, but a crucial step in the internationalization of China's low-altitude electric manned flight technology. This is a proud moment for Xpeng Motors and a vivid testament to 'Intelligent Manufacturing in China' making its mark on the world stage. We look forward to Xpeng Motors working with the UAE government and business community to further broaden and deepen cooperation, achieving more tangible results in joint standards development, scenario creation, and market building — injecting more vitality into Dubai's innovation ecosystem."
Consul General Ou Boqian delivering her speech
When Flying Cars Move From Science Fiction to Reality
Ushering in the Era of Personal Flight
This marked the "Land Aircraft Carrier's" first public appearance in the Middle East. The pilot took off from the tarmac, flew the aircraft toward the Persian Gulf coastline, circled over the water, and landed smoothly. The intelligent cockpit supports both manual and autonomous driving modes, allowing pilots to free their hands at any time to snap aerial photos — a completely new experience in the era of personal flight. Beyond the flight demonstration, the event also featured a showcase of the "Land Aircraft Carrier's" automatic separation and docking capability. The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority and Dubai Civil Aviation Authority conducted detailed reviews of the aircraft and flight plan before issuing the flight permit, with officials present to witness the entire flight.
In-cockpit view of the pilot flying the "Land Aircraft Carrier"
Additionally, the launch event showcased Xpeng Motors' hybrid long-range flying car currently in development, named A868, with a designed range exceeding 500 km and maximum designed speed surpassing 360 km/h. It is expected to debut in Guangzhou in November. According to the company's "three-step" strategy, this product will target long-distance travel needs, working alongside the "Land Aircraft Carrier" to build out diversified low-altitude application scenarios.
A868 product image
According to a BCG white paper on China's manned eVTOL industry published in mid-September, the future manned eVTOL market will gradually evolve along two main trajectories: personal flight eVTOLs focused on short-distance, lightweight scenarios such as flight experiences and training; and mobility eVTOLs in the form of "air taxis" and business charter flights suited for intercity, long-distance point-to-point travel. The "Land Aircraft Carrier" and A868 align precisely with these two predicted application scenarios.
Eastern Wisdom, Globally Expressed
Xpeng Motors Rebrands for a New Departure
That same day, Xpeng Motors officially launched its international brand "ARIDGE" and new logo. Du Chao, the company's CFO and VP, explained at the event: "This is Xpeng Motors' 12th year, and a pivotal transition from exploration to execution. We will use this new brand to pioneer the flying car category, bringing users more leading low-altitude products, promoting the普及 of low-altitude flight, and allowing everyone to enjoy the freedom and convenience that flight brings."
Xpeng Motors' new brand identity
The international brand "ARIDGE" combines "Air" and "Bridge," symbolizing "a bridge connecting heaven and earth in flight" and representing the company's vision to become "the world's leading creator of low-altitude products."
The new logo's core inspiration comes from the Chinese character "飞" (fly). Through geometric deconstruction of the character, it introduces "Z-axis" spatial depth, interpreting the technical breakthroughs and scenario possibilities of flying cars in three-dimensional space, and symbolizing the mission to "make flight freer." This new brand identity system will appear on future production versions of the "Land Aircraft Carrier."
The "Land Aircraft Carrier" featuring the new brand identity system
Perfect Fusion of Aviation and Automotive Industries
Flying Car Mass Production Accelerates
Xpeng Motors' flying car manufacturing base in Guangzhou was also fully completed by the end of September. This is the world's first flying car smart factory to use modern assembly lines for large-scale production, with annual capacity in the "ten-thousands" range, planned to officially begin production and delivery in 2026. The factory integrates aviation-grade precision with automotive-grade efficiency, accelerating the path to mass production — at full capacity, one aircraft will roll off the line every 30 minutes.
Exterior of Xpeng Motors' flying car smart factory
Production line commissioning inside the factory
Full-Scale Global Expansion
Entering Middle East Market by 2027
At the event, Xpeng Motors signed the Middle East's first batch purchase agreement for 600 flying cars with UAE-based Ali & Sons Group, Qatar's Almana Group, Kuwait's AlSayer Group, and the UAE Chinese Business Council — setting a record for the largest overseas bulk order in the sector. Going forward, Xpeng Motors will work with these partners to advance local regulatory certification, market sales, and diversified application scenario development. The Land Aircraft Carrier has now accumulated 7,000 orders.
On-site signing of strategic cooperation agreements and purchase orders
According to BCG's report, the global manned eVTOL market will reach $225 billion by 2040. By that year, the Middle Eastern market will hit $11.7 billion, with personal flight eVTOLs accounting for nearly 85%. The Middle East offers not only forward-looking policy environments and robust industrial support, but also a highly open user mindset toward future mobility. Xpeng Motors plans to enter the Middle East market as early as 2027!
Xpeng Motors' global strategic planning
Xpeng Motors' cooperation with the Middle East dates back to 2022, when its "Voyager X2" aircraft completed the world's first public flight in Dubai. In 2024, the company established a partnership with UAE telecom provider Etisalat. In September 2025, it became the first Chinese flying car company to receive a special flight permit for crewed aircraft overseas, issued in the UAE emirate of Ras Al Khaimah. In the same period, it signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the local transportation authority there to jointly advance flying car technology R&D, flight certification, and scenario application.
Starting from the Middle East, Xpeng Motors' global expansion is accelerating. The company will gradually enter more countries and regions, working with global partners to build a low-altitude mobility ecosystem — making flight freer!
Founded in 2022, Heart Capital is an early-stage venture capital fund focused on technology and digitalization in China. The team is led by Yan Han, founding partner of Lightspeed, alongside core investors, a CFO, and seasoned industry investors. Notable past investments include Series A bets on Xpeng Motors (NYSE: XPEV, 09868.HK), Full Truck Alliance (NYSE: YMM), as well as FinVolution (NYSE: FINV), RoboSense (02498.HK), Baichuan, Manbang Cold Chain, Fan Deng Reading, World Logistics, Micro-Nano Star, LandSpace, Lanhu, and Starfield. Rooted in China with a global outlook, Heart Capital seeks true value in non-consensus spaces. The firm respects the value of "people" and champions the potential of the "heart," aspiring to accompany more young Chinese entrepreneurs in strengthening China and reaching the world.