XPeng helicopter expected to land in Australia in 2026
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The Chinese car brand says it has received "genuine" customer interest for its X2 helicopter, with XPeng anticipating pre-orders to open in 2025 and deliveries by 2026.
While incoming Chinese car maker XPeng is busy focusing on deliveries of its electric G6 SUV, the brand's battery-powered helicopter could land in Australia in the next couple of years.
According to Jason Clarke, the CEO of TrueEV – XPeng's Australian importer and distributor – customer interest in the X2 "has been genuine".
However, the X2's interest stems from various organisations and private parties that need the helicopter for operational requirements rather than individual drivers looking to use it recreationally.
"The [customer] profile of interested parties [ranges] from emergency services to rural landowners, particularly those who currently use helicopters for their operation's needs," Clarke told Drive.
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The Chinese car maker said it has started taking expressions of interest, and depending on whether there is sufficient interest "and early indicators suggest there is," Clarke said XPeng anticipates pre-orders to start sometime in 2025, "with the first deliveries in 2026."
To prepare for the influx of potential orders, XPeng's aviation division – dubbed AEROHT – is building a new factory that Clarke said will be designed to produce 10,000 X2 units "to meet this demand".
However, bringing a helicopter into Australia won't be easy, as the Federal Government has stringent laws that require any form of aviation to pass through multiple legal barriers before it reaches the public.
In response, Clarke said XPeng has started conversations with federal aviation authorities to understand the legal requirements of bringing the X2 into the domestic market.
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"The team has already commenced engagement with CASA [Civil Aviation Safety Authority] to ensure that the X2 meets all necessary registration, safety, and piloting standards, [as well as] focusing on a safe and compliant introduction into the Australian market," he told Drive.
According to the TrueEV CEO, the X2 has completed 10,000 hours of "in-real world use in locations" like Dubai and China, with the flying car's applications ranging from recreational use and air transport.
"Further testing is underway to assess its viability for roles like air taxi and emergency services," Clarke told Drive.
While Australian prices are yet to be confirmed, Clarke told local media outlets the X2 costs around $200,000, with XPeng showcasing the electric helicopter at the 2024 EV expo in Sydney and Melbourne alongside the G6 SUV.
The post XPeng helicopter expected to land in Australia in 2026 appeared first on Drive.
