Joby-esque air taxi rises from the ashes of an airshow crash
Original story by: New Atlas
Last updated: Oct 17, 2025
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- Context: Xpeng's flying car division, AeroHT, has rebranded to Aridge following a public crash during an air show rehearsal. The company has also unveiled a new, ambitious air taxi design that resembles existing models from competitors like Joby.
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- Detailed Summary:
- AeroHT, Xpeng's flying car unit, has rebranded to Aridge. This rebranding occurs after an incident where two of its conventional multirotor two-seaters collided during an air show rehearsal, resulting in a fireball but no injuries.
- AeroHT has a history of developing unconventional and ambitious flying vehicle concepts, including a street-legal flying supercar and the "Land Aircraft Carrier," a six-wheeled adventure van designed to carry and launch a two-seat eVTOL aircraft. Deliveries for the latter are scheduled for next year with a reported price of around $280,000.
- The newly revealed Aridge A868 air taxi is a tilt-rotor eVTOL design that bears a strong resemblance to Joby's S4, particularly in its six tilting rotors.
- Aridge aims to surpass Joby's performance, with projected capabilities of over 500 km (311 miles) in range and a top speed exceeding 360 km/h (224 mph) for its six-seat design.
- The A868 is planned as a hybrid-electric aircraft, not a fully electric one, which raises questions about its environmental footprint.
- The article notes China's advanced regulatory environment for eVTOLs, including full certification for commercial use and pilotless flights, contrasting with more conservative approaches by EASA and the FAA. This regulatory landscape could allow for autonomous operation of the Aridge A868 in the future.
- While the A868 is still in the rendering stage, the company's track record of technical ambition and successful prototyping, despite the recent incident, suggests a serious commitment to its development.
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