BYD Sets the Record Straight
Social media exploded this week after a circulating video suggested that BYD’s luxury brand Yangwang had developed a flying electric car called Ufly. The clip spread fast, and soon people began claiming the aircraft could charge at megawatt speeds and was already testing long‑distance flights. Some posts even insisted that it flew over 130 kilometers between Zhuhai and Shenzhen and gained overseas clearance to operate in China.
The story sounded futuristic and exciting, but BYD quickly stepped in to clear the air.
No Flying Car — At Least Not From BYD
Li Yunfei, head of branding and public relations for BYD, addressed the situation directly on Weibo. He stated that the company is not working on a flying car program and has no internal schedule or plans related to it. He also emphasized the importance of staying grounded online, especially as misinformation spreads rapidly. Earlier this month, BYD even won a legal case against content creators who fabricated claims about the company.
In short — the viral buzz didn’t reflect reality.
Others Are Racing Toward the Sky
While BYD stays focused on road‑based EVs, the aerial mobility race continues elsewhere. XPeng’s aerospace division Aridge is pushing ahead with two flight concepts. One targets personal travel and resembles a compact road‑to-air craft, while the A868 model aims for longer trips with more cabin space. XPeng said the first version already reached over 7,000 global reservations, with mass production underway.
Several other Chinese automakers — including Chery, GAC, FAW, and Changan — are developing electric or hybrid air vehicles too. The dream of urban flight clearly isn’t fading.
Flying Cars in the U.S.
Across the Pacific, Alef Aeronautics in California started hand‑building its first customer units. Early buyers will test them soon, and a recent clip even showed Alef’s craft hopping over a Cybertruck. Meanwhile, Tesla filed a patent for a “fan‑car” concept that boosts grip and performance. It’s not a flying car yet, but with Elon Musk involved, anything could evolve.
