China’s “Flying Car Development Report 2.0” report, released on January 19 by Tsinghua University’s School of Vehicle and Mobility, says the emergence of flying cars signals a major shift in the country’s low-altitude economy—from incremental tool innovation to a fundamental reshaping of the transportation ecosystem.
The report projects a surge in commercial deployment between 2025 and 2030, following a dual-track trajectory of specialized and mass-market applications. Initial adoption is expected in professional fields such as emergency rescue, law enforcement, and highway inspection. Consumer applications are set to roll out more gradually, beginning with tourism, followed by short-distance airport–city shuttles and intercity travel within urban clusters, while routine urban commuting remains a longer-term objective.
Technologically, the report highlights several bottlenecks to large-scale adoption, including payload range, airworthiness and safety certification, autonomous flight control, and propulsion systems. Advanced autonomy—especially for operations in dense urban airspace—is identified as a globally recognized requirement. While propulsion development is trending toward a mix of electric, hybrid, and hydrogen systems, the report notes that lightweight hybrid technologies capable of meeting emergency safety standards still require significant breakthroughs.
Source: Xinhua, January 21, 2026
https://www.news.cn/tech/20260120/233fdd2f80974d15b2db33035c01414e/c.html.