How close is the dream of a flying car? Where did the preparations reach from China to India?

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturing company XPeng is preparing to launch a two-seater electric flying car in 2027. This technology is also being worked on in many countries including America, Japan, Britain and India. Some companies are testing their planes, while others are close to getting government approval. China’s EHang has received three major approvals needed for pilotless aircraft that carry passengers.

Most of these flying cars are actually electric air taxis. This is called eVTOL. They run on electricity and can fly straight up without a runway like a helicopter. After this it moves like an airplane. These usually accommodate a pilot and a few passengers. Cars running on the road and flying in the air are different.

China: EHang at the forefront

EHang’s EH216-S seats two passengers and does not require a pilot. China approved the design in October 2023, production in March 2024 and passenger service to two operators in March 2025. According to the company, test flights continued for 17 months with two operators in Guangzhou and Hefei until August 2026. Intra-city air routes are also being tested in Guangzhou.

Autoflight’s five-passenger Prosperity is also in development. In February 2024, it flew 50 km between Shenzhen and Zhuhai. In November 2026, five of its eVTOL aircraft flew together for 47 minutes and covered a distance of over 133 km. This was a test of mutual coordination and unpiloted flight, not passenger clearance.

America: Joby and Archer

Jobi Aviation’s S4 is for one pilot and four passengers. As of November 4, 2026, three steps of the FAA’s five-step process were completed. The fourth is to be checked and the fifth is to finalize security. Testing with pilots is expected to begin in the first half of 2027. Joby flew official flights between Texas and Florida. Its second air taxi station in Dubai has been completed; It will be tested with a pilot by the end of the year. Archer Aviation’s Midnight received special flight authorization from the FAA on November 9, 2026. It will be tested with a pilot in Los Angeles. The company is preparing for government events and potential services related to the 2028 Olympics; This is not final approval of passenger service.

On October 16, Tesla showed off a second-generation Roadster built by Tesla and SpaceX engineers. According to the company, it can accelerate from 0 to 97 km/h in 0.81 seconds. It has cold-gas thrusters and high-pressure air tanks, which allow the car to jump, flip and land safely in the air. Production is expected to begin in 2028.

Japan and Britain

Skydrive’s Japanese SD-05 completed 300 test flights by June 2026 and reached a speed of 100 km/h. In March 2026, the company agreed to the Department of Civil Aviation approval scheme. The target is service in 2028. Vertical Aerospace tested the Valo in the UK in April 2026. It took off like a helicopter, flew like an airplane and then landed. The test was conducted under the supervision of the Department of Civil Aviation. The company is seeking approval by 2028.

India: More than 500 tests

Sarla Aviation and The Eplane Company are active in India. Bengaluru-based Sarla completed testing of a half-size model of Silla in July 2026. More than 500 tests and more than 18 hours of flight were completed on the 700 kg model. The next model will be able to fly forward after hovering. The target is six passengers zero. In August 2026, the company received Design Institute approval from DGCA.

Chennai-based ePlane Company introduced the e200X full-size prototype. It will have one pilot and two passengers. The company wants air ambulance first and then passenger service. In August 2026, it was in the second phase of DGCA’s four-phase process. The plane did not take off; Flight testing of the prototype is targeted to begin in April 2027.

Challenges and approvals

Battery weight, limited range and safe landing in case of failure are the main challenges. Cities need safe airways, vertiports and affordable charging-maintenance systems with low noise. According to the US government agency GAO, 47 US airports planned to have electric aircraft charging stations by December 2025, including 43 smaller or less busy stations. Three clearances are required for passengers. Design-Safety, Quality Assurance and Approval for Passenger Performance. EHang has got all three. Rest of the companies are at different stages.