Foreign media: Volkswagen launched its China flying car project in 2019, aiming to create a luxury electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft capable of carrying four people for ultra-rich individuals, with plans to use it for commuting between major cities like Beijing and Tianjin, producing noise only half that of a helicopter.
Internal assessments criticized the team for lacking aviation experience and for overly aggressive design. In June 2024, the head of Volkswagen China ultimately decided to terminate the project, shifting focus back to core automotive operations.
At this time, China had elevated "low-altitude economy" to a national strategy, with at least seven domestic companies expected to launch flying cars by the end of 2026. Meanwhile, Volkswagen’s sales in China have declined from a peak of 4.2 million units in 2019 to 2.7 million units last year, with its market share overtaken by local brands such as BYD and Geely.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1872136420042764/
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