Chery Automobile Modular Flying Car (prototype)

(Photo credit: Chery Automobile)

Modular Flying Car (prototype)
Chery Automobile
Wuhu, Anhui, China
www.cheryinternational.com

Please remember, it is known that information originating from China is sometimes sparse, incomplete or inaccurate. The information we provide here is from either company news reports or online articles. We do know that China is promoting what they call the "low-altitude economy" (in the US, it's known as advanced air mobility or AAM). China's low-altitude economy includes both crewed and uncrewed passenger and air cargo electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) and hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft.

Founded in 1997, Chery Automobile is a Chinese state-owned corporation that is headquartered in Wuhu, Anhui, China. The automaker revealed a prototype of a modular flying car at the October 2024 Chery Global Innovation Conference in China. The company is working with the Tsinghua University School of Vehicle and Mobility, UAS manufacturer Aerospace Times Feipeng, Suntae Automobile and other companies

Modular Flying Car passenger eVTOL prototype air-ground modular aircraft and vehicle
The Modular Flying Car is a two passenger autonomous eVTOL prototype air-ground modular aircraft and vehicle. There are three modules, the intelligent cockpit, the aircraft and the car chassis. Since this vehicle is completely autonomous, there is no need for steering wheels or gas pedals inside the passenger module.

The maximum speed of the aircraft when flying is estimated to be 120 km/h (75 mph), has an expected range of 70–80 km (43– 50 miles), a planned flight time of 40 minutes and will fly under 1,000 m (3,300 ft). The aircraft has eight VTOL-only propellers, one pusher propeller, has nine electric motors and the power source is unknown. The aircraft has one high main wing and one inverted U tail. The aircraft can land by itself on fixed skid landing gear. The car chassis has four wheels like an ordinary automobile.

The first test flights were successfully completed in August 2024 per the Chinese government.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: Passenger eVTOL prototype air-ground modular vehicle
• Piloting and driving: Autonomous piloting and driving with an intelligent cockpit
• Capacity: 2 people and their luggage
• Maximum speed: 120 km/h (75 mph)
• Range: 70–80 km (43– 50 miles)
• Flight time: 40 minutes
• Maximum altitude: 1,000 m (3,300 ft)
• Propellers: 9 propellers (8 VTOL-only propellers, 1 pusher propeller)
• Electric motors: 9 electric motors
• Power source: Unknown
• Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite
• Windows: Panoramic wrap around windows allowing forward, left and right visibility for spectacular views with a solid roof above the passenger compartment
• Wings: 1 high main wing
• Tail: 1 inverted U tail
• Landing gear: Fixed skid landing gear
• Safety features: Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP) uses multiple propellers or electric ducted fans, each powered by electric motors, to increase safety through redundancy. If one or more components fail, the remaining ones can still ensure a safe landing. There are also redundancies of critical components in the sub-systems of the aircraft providing safety through redundancy. Having multiple redundant systems on any aircraft decreases having any single point of failure. The aircraft has no moving surfaces or tilting parts when transitioning from vertical to forward flight and the reverse which increases safety by reducing complexity.

Resources:

• Chery Automobile website
• Chery Automobile Wikipedia
• Article: Chery’s unmanned flying car had flown 80 km, company claimed, Car News China, Oct. 18, 2024
• Article: China eVTOL Aircraft Round-Up, Part 2, Vertiflite, January/February 2025
• Article: Chery unveils patent for modular flying car with three-body design, Gasgoo, Feb. 19, 2025