In 2021, a remarkable sight graced the skies over Slovakia – a vehicle that could transform from a car into an aircraft in just over two minutes. Powered by a BMW engine and fueled by regular automotive gasoline, the AirCar flew for 35 minutes between two Slovakian airports, using runways for takeoff and landing. This groundbreaking feat was the culmination of years of research and development by KleinVision, a Slovakian company at the forefront of flying car technology.

Fast forward to the present day, and KleinVision has made a significant deal that could shape the future of flying cars. Hebei Jianxin Flying Car Technology Company, headquartered in the Chinese city of Cangzhou, has purchased exclusive rights to manufacture and use AirCar aircraft within a specific, undisclosed geographical region of China.

Anton Zajac, the co-founder of KleinVision, revealed that Hebei Jianxin has already built its own airport and flight school, following a previous acquisition from another Slovakian aircraft manufacturer. This strategic move underscores China’s ambition to become a leading player in the emerging flying car industry.

China’s interest in flying cars is part of a broader push to develop innovative transportation solutions. Last month, a Chinese firm called Autoflight conducted a test flight of a passenger-carrying drone between the cities of Shenzhen and Zhuhai. The journey, which typically takes three hours by car, was completed in just 20 minutes, although the aircraft carried no passengers during the test.

Another Chinese company, eHang, made headlines in 2023 when it was awarded a safety certificate by Chinese authorities for its electric flying taxi. Across the globe, the UK government has expressed optimism that flying taxis could become a regular sight in British skies by 2028.

Unlike the drone-like passenger aircraft being developed by companies like Autoflight and eHang, the AirCar does not take off and land vertically. Instead, it requires a runway, much like traditional aircraft. This distinction sets it apart from many of the urban air mobility solutions currently in development.

KleinVision has remained tight-lipped about the financial details of the deal with Hebei Jianxin, choosing not to disclose the amount for which the technology was sold.

In 2022, AirCar achieved a significant milestone when it was issued a certificate of airworthiness by the Slovak Transport Authority, validating its airworthiness and safety standards. More recently, the AirCar gained global attention when it was featured in a video published by the popular YouTuber Mr Beast earlier this year.

While the AirCar represents a remarkable technological achievement, its widespread adoption faces considerable hurdles, including infrastructure challenges, regulatory complexities, and public acceptance of this novel form of transportation.

Steve Wright, an aviation consultant, acknowledges that this “brave new world of personal transport” is acting as a great leveler, with global efforts to regulate the sector leaving “everyone scrambling to come up with a whole new set of questions that need to be asked.”

Wright suggests that the West’s rich aviation history could sometimes slow progress, as there is a temptation to try and fit these new machines into existing regulatory frameworks. In contrast, he believes that China might seize this opportunity to get ahead in the race to establish dominance in the flying car market, much like it did with electric vehicles, where it has become a global leader.