Electric air taxis fly in New York as flying cars move closer to launch

The future of urban transport is no longer confined to concept videos and speculative prototypes. It is beginning to take shape, quiety, in the skies above major cities.

While Chinese automaker Xpeng prepares to mass-produce “flying cars” as early as next year, across the globe, Joby Aviation has been putting its electric aircraft through real-world trials over New York City. Together, these developments point to a turning point for a sector long viewed as futuristic.

Electric air taxi test flights in New York

In a recent demonstration, Joby successfully flew an all-electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft between Manhattan and John F Kennedy International Airport. The route, which typically takes up to two hours by road depending on traffic, was completed in under 10 minutes.

The aircraft, resembling an oversized drone, carries up to five people, including a pilot. It lifts off vertically like a helicopter before transitioning into forward flight as its propellers tilt.

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Crucially, it produces zero operating emissions and significantly less noise than traditional helicopters, a key factor for dense urban environments.

The demonstration is part of a broader push to integrate air taxis into existing transport networks, connecting heliports across cities to major transit hubs such as airports.

FAA certification and global pilot programmes

Joby’s New York flights are not isolated tests but part of a wider regulatory and technological effort. The company is currently in the final stages of certification with the Federal Aviation Administration, which has established a five-step process to ensure safety and operational readiness.

These trials are also linked to the US Department of Transportation’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program, which is testing next-generation aircraft across multiple use cases, from passenger transport and cargo delivery to emergency response and offshore operations.

According to officials, these pilot programmes are expected to generate critical real-world data that will shape future regulations and enable large-scale deployment. Partnerships with regional authorities and transport bodies are further expanding the testing ecosystem, making it one of the most comprehensive aviation experiments in recent history.

Xpeng flying cars production by 2027

Meanwhile, the push towards airborne mobility is gaining momentum in China.

Xpeng has announced plans to begin large-scale production of its flying cars next year, with more than 7,000 orders already secured, most of them within its home market. The company is also working to secure regulatory approvals from aviation authorities, a critical step before commercial deployment.

Beyond flying vehicles, Xpeng is simultaneously investing in humanoid robots, aiming to begin their mass production by late 2026. The company’s strategy reflects a broader ambition to diversify into next-generation mobility and automation technologies.

It is also exploring deeper collaborations with global partners, including Volkswagen, signalling that the future of mobility may be shaped as much by partnerships as by individual innovation.

Together, these developments underline a rapidly intensifying global race. Whether through short urban hops in New York or scalable production lines in China, the idea of taking to the skies for everyday travel is moving closer to reality.

What was once experimental is now edging towards practical, and the commute of the future may soon be measured not in miles or minutes on the road, but in minutes through the air.