SHERIDAN, WYOMING – December 15, 2025 – The idea of “taking a road trip” may be getting a serious upgrade in China, where the fast-rising low-altitude economy is being positioned as the next trillion-level industry. ARIDGE says it’s building for that moment with two distinct flight systems—one meant for personal, short-range experiences, and another designed for longer, faster, multi-passenger travel. Together, the company frames them as the start of a new era in three-dimensional mobility.
Two Very Different Ways to Fly
ARIDGE’s approach isn’t “one flying car for everyone.” Instead, it’s a two-track vision for low-altitude travel scenarios.
- The Land Aircraft Carrier is designed for personal short-range flight experiences—think of it as the “I want to fly myself” lane.
- The A868 full tilt-rotor hybrid flying car is tailored for multi-passenger long-range travel, with a more intercity, business-travel vibe.
If you’ve ever wished a weekend plan could skip the boring parts—traffic, transfers, waiting—this is exactly the type of promise low-altitude mobility is trying to make.
A868: The Long-Range eVTOL Concept Aiming for Serious Distance
Unveiled during XPENG AI Day 2025, ARIDGE says the A868 features a full tilt-rotor configuration powered by XPENG’s Kunpeng Super Extended-Range Architecture. It’s built around a self-developed, aviation-grade hybrid-electric core that delivers continuous power and targets performance figures that sound closer to “fast travel” than “demo flight.”
ARIDGE lists three headline targets:
- 500 km range
- 360 km/h maximum cruising speed
- A six-seat cabin designed for executive and business travel
Just as important, ARIDGE says the A868 has entered the crucial stage of flight verification, which signals meaningful progress toward commercialization—even if the day-to-day reality of booking, routes, and access is still part of the bigger journey ahead.
Land Aircraft Carrier: From Big Idea to Mass-Production Momentum
If the A868 is the long-range dream, the Land Aircraft Carrier is the “this is getting real” story. ARIDGE says it has officially reached the eve of mass production, with global orders surpassing 7,000 units—an industry milestone the company calls unprecedented.
To make personal flight feel less intimidating, ARIDGE highlights several design and safety concepts, including:
- The world’s first intelligent air cockpit
- A “four-axis integrated” single-stick control system, aimed at helping new pilots learn with ease
- A full-domain safety-redundancy system for propulsion, power, control, and communication
- A six-axis, six-propeller dual-ducted configuration intended to maintain safe flight even under dual-rotor failure
On November 3, ARIDGE’s Flying Car Intelligent Manufacturing Plant began trial production and successfully rolled out the first Land Aircraft Carrier—one of those quiet “factory moments” that often matter as much as flashy unveilings.
Why the Factory Detail Is a Big Deal
ARIDGE describes its facility as the world’s first modern flying-car production plant, combining aviation-grade quality with automotive-grade efficiency. The targets are all about scale:
- 10,000 units annual capacity
- One aircraft every 30 minutes at full operation
In plain lifestyle terms: the faster something can be built reliably, the faster it can move from “rare and exclusive” to “available and practical.” ARIDGE says this milestone sets the stage for large-scale production in 2026.
Editorial Extra: 3 Ways Low-Altitude Mobility Could Change the Way We Travel
- Turn the journey into the highlight: Flying can become part of the experience—not just a way to get somewhere.
- Reimagine short escapes: Quick, short-range flights could make a day trip feel like a mini vacation.
- Upgrade scenic tourism: A “self-flying road trip” adds a totally new layer to culture-and-nature travel.
ARIDGE also points to exactly that kind of use case: in 2026, it will partner with the Dunhuang Municipal Government to launch China’s first low-altitude self-driving tourism route in Northwest China, creating a three-dimensional “self-flying road trip” experience that blends technology, culture, and exploration.
The Big Picture: “Freedom to Fly” as a Lifestyle Idea
ARIDGE’s message is ultimately emotional as much as technical—pushing mobility “from ground to sky” and making “Freedom to Fly” feel like something ordinary people could one day plan around. Whether you’re imagining business travel that skips the hassle, or tourism that becomes more immersive and playful, the most interesting part is that ARIDGE is building not just vehicles—but scenarios.
Learn more about the A868 on ARIDGE’s official site at https://www.aridge.com/a868. (aridge.com)