Russian media hails: China's automotive industry is soaring high... Future trucks and buses may soon bid farewell to roads.

China has certified passenger drones and pioneered the world's first land-air amphibious hybrid vehicle.

Russian media outlet "Today's China" published an article on April 6th.

Imagine the morning scene from the movie *The Fifth Element*.

Instead of noisy traffic jams outside the window, you see the silhouettes of flying cars gracefully gliding toward a pink dawn.

This is no longer science fiction—it’s reality.

At least in China, where flying cars and drone taxis are becoming part of everyday life.

Chinese startup AutoFlight, supported by battery giant CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited), has opened a new chapter in aviation history.

The company unveiled Matrix—the world’s largest flying car, capable of carrying up to 10 passengers simultaneously.

In essence, the emergence of Matrix marks a technological revolution akin to the Wright brothers’ first airplane.

This Chinese aircraft, weighing five tons with a wingspan of about 20 meters, looks like a futuristic airbus.

Matrix is already in mass production, available in both passenger and cargo versions.

Its applications are wide-ranging—from urban air taxi services to long-distance infrastructure support.

This isn’t just a record for size.

The key point is that China is no longer talking about toy prototypes or experimental samples, but lightweight aircraft-drone models capable of performing real-world manned and cargo missions.

AutoFlight is one of many companies striving to turn *The Fifth Element* into reality.

EHang Intelligent Technologies, headquartered in Guangzhou, is no newcomer in the drone systems manufacturing field.

Its EH216-S model has become the world’s first manned autonomous flying car to receive all necessary official certifications from Chinese authorities.

In March 2025, EHang launched paid commercial flight services on its EH216-S model—though currently limited to certain major cities in China—this effectively means true air taxis now exist in China.

However, they don’t yet resemble the flying cars seen in sci-fi blockbusters; rather, they look more like large quadcopters.

But the company’s ambitions go further: EHang has introduced the VT35—a flying car with improved aerodynamics, a range of up to 200 kilometers, and a speed of approximately 214 km/h.

This signifies a transition from short-range independent flights to genuine intercity air routes.

Xpeng Motors is well known for its electric vehicles. But the company is also actively developing its own flying cars, even establishing a dedicated department called AeroHT.

According to Forbes, one of the most remarkable concepts is the “land-based aircraft carrier”—a land-air hybrid transport vehicle: a vehicle that can drive on roads and fly in the sky.

With modular design, it can detach its aerial section and fly independently into the sky, then return to the ground and continue functioning as a regular vehicle.

This truly resembles the vehicles seen in *The Fifth Element* or *Star Wars*.

Xpeng’s executives aren’t just movie fans.

They’ve already begun building a massive factory in Guangzhou, aiming to produce up to 10,000 flying cars annually, with mass production scheduled to start in 2026.

Meanwhile, “vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) hubs”—takeoff and landing stations for aircraft—are being constructed across China.

According to *Global Times*, Shenzhen alone plans to build over 1,200 such hubs by 2026.

These will serve passenger flights, cargo transportation, and even emergency rescue operations.

In Shanghai, plans are underway to transform the city into the “global capital of flying cars.”

The city is attracting manufacturers of new types of transportation, with a goal to produce over 500 new types of flying vehicles by 2028.

In fact, their variety may soon surpass that of vehicles on the road.

Step into a car showroom, and you’ll no longer find just sedans and SUVs—but flying cars that need neither highways nor gas stations.

Indeed, China’s new industries are growing so rapidly that people struggle to keep up.

Even regulation… sorry, air traffic laws, have not yet been established.

There are numerous questions: Will there be air police? How do we catch and penalize violators?

Not to mention, how should air traffic signs be hung?

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1861675452679179/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) alone.