Flying car prototype debuts in China

A flying car prototype developed by Southeast University made a public debut at the Jiulonghu campus, performing a smooth vertical takeoff, brief flight over a lake and a precise landing on an open‑air platform of the Sanjiang Building in under two minutes. Named Kunpeng 2.0, the vehicle is an experimental composite operation platform designed to operate both in the air and on the ground, with foldable rotor/arm structures intended to ease parking and road navigation and support applications in logistics, inspection and emergency response.

The round of demonstrations validated core systems—vertical takeoff, hovering and confined-space landing—and showcased improvements in aerodynamics, lift efficiency, structural materials and stability compared with earlier prototypes. Kunpeng 2.0 incorporates advanced sensors, onboard computing and AI‑assisted control that automatically adjusts to wind and minor disturbances, a capability the developers say is essential for future semi‑autonomous or autonomous operation. The aircraft’s compact form and foldable mechanisms aim to address practical constraints for low‑altitude urban use.

Researchers emphasized the platform’s research focus rather than commercial readiness: Kunpeng 2.0 is intended to test technologies for low‑altitude flight, vehicle integration and intelligent control, producing data and experience for potential future products such as air taxis, emergency rescue vehicles and specialized logistics craft. The project involves collaboration with domestic technology firms and forms part of broader regional efforts to develop a “low‑altitude economy” encompassing drones and electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft.

Organizers and attendees framed the debut as an academic and regional innovation milestone: the prototype gives students hands‑on experience in multidisciplinary engineering and helps position Jiangsu as a hub for advanced mobility research. Officials noted ongoing challenges before flying cars enter routine service—safety certification, air‑traffic management, noise, energy density of batteries and public acceptance—and said further testing will target endurance, control algorithms and integration with ground transport systems.

While the demonstration was limited in scope and distance, observers said the event signaled measurable technical progress and underlined China’s commitment to exploring next‑generation transportation. Kunpeng 2.0 thus stands as a staged step in a longer programme of research and regulatory coordination aimed at turning experimental low‑altitude vehicles into practical tools for specialized and, eventually, urban mobility.