The Future of Flying Cars

11/21/2022

Hailey Poziombka ‘23

In the movie Back to the Future 2, the main characters Marty and Doc Brown travel forward in time from 1985 to the year 2016. This version of the present depicted holograms and flying cars as a part of normal daily life. Even though history did not play out like the movie, with new developments from the Chinese company XPeng, we are one step closer to achieving flying cars.

The XPeng flying car is both a road-worthy vehicle and quadcopter capable of vertical takeoff. Its car body has four extendable propellors attached to the top allowing it air mobility similar to that of a drone. In addition, the car is equipped with AI technology to allow the car to self-drive and even avoid buildings while in air.

XPeng believes they can secure regulations for flying cars in cities within five years. This follows China's timeline to establish flying taxis.

With all these new developments, the future is closer than we realize.