GAC Group launches new eVTOL enterprise, unveils flagship AirJet

Chinese language auto conglomerate GAC Group is delving additional into sustainable air transportation with a brand new eVTOL-centric enterprise enterprise referred to as Govy. The corporate unveiled its flagship plane, the AirJet, through the announcement of the brand new model. AirJet is GAC’s second “flying automotive” design in two years, however this iteration is extra of a standard eVTOL.

Guangzhou Vehicle Group Co., Ltd., higher often known as GAC Group, is a Chinese language state-owned automotive conglomerate and the fifth largest producer within the nation for its phase. Up to now, we’ve centered extra on the corporate’s presence within the EV house, just like the expertise of its sub-brand GAC Aion, in addition to a few of its joint ventures with different OEMs like Stellantis.

Nevertheless, in 2023, GAC unveiled a brand new EV/eVTOL combo car referred to as “Gove,” which is a mixture of the phrases “GAC, On the Go, Vertical, and EV.” GAC debuted the Gove in entrance of a crowd throughout its Tech Day Occasion in June 2023, sharing hopes that it could turn out to be an integral a part of its mobility lineup sooner or later.

We haven’t heard something since. Properly, we all know that GAC modified its title from Gove to AirCar.

That ought to come as little shock, contemplating many corporations growing standalone eVTOLs are nonetheless working towards the required certification and infrastructure to start business air taxi rides. Combining an EV design that drives on roads with the eVTOL part solely complicates issues.

Fellow Chinese language automaker XPeng seems the closest to attaining this feat with the “Land Plane Provider” constructed by its eVTOL enterprise AeroHT. That EV/eVTOL combo is anticipated to hit scaled manufacturing in 2026.

GAC’s AirCar car seems to nonetheless be in improvement, however the firm is increasing its lineup with a second mannequin, the AirJet, which has debuted beneath a brand new eVTOL-specific enterprise arm GAC calls Govy.

GAC Group introduced its new Govy model throughout an occasion held in China yesterday, showcasing a bodily show of its flagship AirJet eVTOL as properly. The corporate shared that AirJet (seen above) is a composite-wing “flying automotive” with versatile vertical takeoff and touchdown capabilities.

Through the use of carbon fiber composites for greater than 90 p.c of its construction, GAC says the AirJet solely weighs one-third that of a automotive physique for a similar quantity, ideally suited for longer all-electric flights. Like all eVTOLs, the plane can take off vertically after which transition its rotors mid-air to fly effectively in a cruise part.

The AirJet now joins GAC’s AirCar within the improvement part, because the Chinese language automaker seems to be to offer a one-two punch in sustainable air journey to Chinese language prospects. In the course of the occasion, GAC acknowledged that it sees the AirCar as a match for zero-emissions journey wants for distances as much as 20 km (12.4 miles), whereas the brand new AirJet will function an air taxi for longer journeys as much as 200 km (124 miles).

GAC’s present iteration of the AirJet eVTOL is supplied with a high-performance electrical drive system developed in-house. The system can obtain a high aerial velocity of 250 km/h (155 mph) and might recharge in half-hour.

Whereas present vary capabilities are 200 km, GAC believes its future solid-state battery expertise will allow its eVTOLs to journey distances of as much as 400 km (249 miles) on a single cost. Based on GAC, it plans to provoke airworthiness certification for its eVTOLs in 2025 earlier than constructing an meeting line to organize for business operations in China.