Flying car maker Aridge to set up operations center in Chengdu

Flying car developer Aridge, part of the XPeng Motors ecosystem, plans to establish an integrated operations center in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province, the company said on Monday.

The plan to establish the center was announced after the Guangzhou-based company signed a cooperation agreement with the Chengdu Economic and Technological Development Zone on Monday.

The center will integrate display, sales, delivery, after-sales service, flight operations and comprehensive training, with plans to complete construction and gradually begin trial operations by the end of 2026.

As another core service hub following Guangzhou, the establishment of the center in Chengdu signifies the company's first physical service center in the country's western region, marking a substantial step from planning to implementation for flying cars in the area.

Leveraging Sichuan's unique natural resources and diverse application scenarios, the company aims to focus on exploring the application of flying cars in public service areas such as emergency rescue, patrol inspection, geological exploration and science education.

The center, with a planned area of about 2,000 square meters, will use and upgrade existing building spaces at Dong'an Lake in Chengdu, adding supporting infrastructure for flying cars, such as hangars and takeoff and landing points.

As one of the first cities in the nation to pilot eVTOL initiatives, Chengdu boasts rich low-altitude infrastructure and airspace resources, with a comprehensive low-altitude economic ecosystem encompassing research and development, manufacturing, operations and services.

qiuquanlin@chinadaily.com.cn