HT Aero

High-Level Overview

HT Aero (also known as XPeng AeroHT or Huitian) is a Guangzhou-based technology company pioneering urban air mobility (UAM) through electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) flying vehicles designed for individual consumers.[1][2][3] It develops smart, sustainable, three-dimensional mobility solutions that integrate automotive and aerospace technologies, including the fifth-generation XPeng X2—a two-seat, all-electric multicopter with 130 km/h cruise speed, 35-minute endurance, and autonomous flight capabilities for city scenarios like air patrol, rescue, and medical transport.[3][5] Backed by XPeng Inc., HT Aero serves urban individuals seeking efficient, carbon-neutral alternatives to ground transport, solving congestion and short-distance travel challenges with vehicles that emphasize safety, one-key operations, and low-altitude air/road integration.[1][4] The company raised $500 million in Series A funding in 2021 from investors like IDG Capital, 5Y Capital, XPeng, Sequoia China, and others to fuel R&D, talent acquisition, and certifications, targeting a next-gen flying car rollout originally planned for 2024.[2][4][5]

With a 500-person team (80% in R&D) across Guangzhou, Beijing, Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Silicon Valley, HT Aero has built five generations of manned electric flying vehicles since 2013, logging over 15,000 crewed test flights.[1][5]

Origin Story

HT Aero traces its roots to 2013, when it was founded as Heitech by Deli Zhao in Dongguan, Guangdong, China, as one of the earliest private pioneers in China's flying vehicle sector.[2][8] Zhao, now founder and president, led early development of electric-powered manned prototypes amid a landscape dominated by state-owned aviation firms.[1][2] A pivotal shift occurred when XPeng Motors acquired the company, rebranding it under XPeng's ecosystem; XPeng founder He Xiaopeng (chairman and CEO of both XPeng and HT Aero) provided joint funding and control, leveraging XPeng's EV expertise in batteries, autonomous driving, and manufacturing.[3][4][8]

Early traction came from iterative prototypes, culminating in safe flight records and the 2021 unveiling of the X2 at events like European Rotors.[3][7] The 2021 Series A infusion marked a leap, enabling scaled R&D and global expansion.[2][4]

Core Differentiators

HT Aero stands out in the eVTOL space through these key strengths:

• Consumer focus: Targets individual owners for personal UAM, unlike most rivals emphasizing business ridesharing, with vehicles enabling "one-key start, return, and landing" via intelligent route planning that factors in weather, buildings, and no-fly zones.[2][4][5]
• Integrated air-road vehicles: Next-gen models fuse flying cars with road-driving capabilities, powered by XPeng's EV tech for seamless "driving and flying" ecosystems.[1][4]
• Proven track record: Five generations of vehicles since 2013, >15,000 crewed test flights, and pure-electric designs with zero in-flight emissions.[1][5]
• XPeng synergy: Access to autonomous driving, supply chain, and mass-production expertise; multidisciplinary team excels in avionics, airworthiness, and simulation.[1][3][4]
• R&D depth: 80% of 500 staff in core tech, with global labs pursuing certifications for safe, carbon-neutral urban ops.[1][2]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

HT Aero rides the UAM and low-altitude economy wave, blending eVTOL with EV advancements amid China's push for smart cities and green transport.[1][2] Timing aligns with battery tech, autonomous driving, and materials science synergies, positioning it for a projected trillion-dollar flying car market.[2] Favorable forces include XPeng's manufacturing scale, regulatory tailwinds for low-altitude flights in China, and global UAM pilots (e.g., European debut).[6][7] It influences the ecosystem by pioneering consumer-grade flying cars, accelerating XPeng's "integrated driving-flying" vision, and validating private innovation in a state-heavy aviation sector—potentially reshaping urban mobility like EVs did roads.[1][4]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

HT Aero is poised to deliver production flying cars post-2024 rollout, prioritizing airworthiness certifications and talent scaling amid eVTOL commercialization.[2][4] Trends like advanced batteries, AI autonomy, and urban densification will propel it, especially with China's low-altitude infrastructure boom. Its influence may grow via XPeng's ecosystem, expanding consumer UAM globally and blurring air-ground transport boundaries—echoing its founding mission to redefine mobility beyond smart EVs.[1][3]