GAC Group launches new eVTOL business and unveils flagship model called the AirJet

Chinese auto conglomerate GAC Group is delving further into sustainable air transportation with a new eVTOL-centric business venture called Govy. The company unveiled its flagship aircraft, the AirJet, during the announcement of the new brand. AirJet is GAC’s second “flying car” design in two years, but this iteration is more of a traditional eVTOL.

Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd., better known as GAC Group, is a Chinese state-owned automotive conglomerate and the fifth largest manufacturer in the country for its segment. In the past, we’ve focused more on the company’s presence in the EV space, like the technology of its sub-brand GAC Aion, as well as some of its joint ventures with other OEMs like Stellantis.

However, in 2023, GAC unveiled a new EV/eVTOL combo vehicle called “Gove,” which is a combination of the words “GAC, On the Go, Vertical, and EV.” GAC debuted the Gove in front of a crowd during its Tech Day Event in June 2023, sharing hopes that it would become an integral part of its mobility lineup in the future.

We haven’t heard anything since. Well, we know that GAC changed its name from Gove to AirCar.

That should come as little surprise, considering many companies developing standalone eVTOLs are still working toward the necessary certification and infrastructure to begin commercial air taxi rides. Combining an EV design that drives on roads with the eVTOL component only complicates things.

Fellow Chinese automaker XPeng appears the closest to achieving this feat with the “Land Aircraft Carrier” built by its eVTOL venture AeroHT. That EV/eVTOL combo is expected to hit scaled production in 2026.

GAC’s AirCar vehicle appears to still be in development, but the company is expanding its lineup with a second model, the AirJet, which has debuted under a new eVTOL-specific business arm GAC calls Govy.

GAC Group announced its new Govy brand during an event held in China yesterday, showcasing a physical display of its flagship AirJet eVTOL as well. The company shared that AirJet (seen above) is a composite-wing “flying car” with flexible vertical takeoff and landing capabilities.

By using carbon fiber composites for more than 90 percent of its structure, GAC says the AirJet only weighs one-third that of a car body for the same volume, ideal for longer all-electric flights. Like all eVTOLs, the aircraft can take off vertically and then transition its rotors mid-air to fly efficiently in a cruise phase.

The AirJet now joins GAC’s AirCar in the development phase, as the Chinese automaker looks to provide a one-two punch in sustainable air travel to Chinese customers. During the event, GAC stated that it sees the AirCar as a fit for zero-emissions travel needs for distances up to 20 km (12.4 miles), while the new AirJet will serve as an air taxi for longer trips up to 200 km (124 miles).

GAC’s current iteration of the AirJet eVTOL is equipped with a high-performance electric drive system developed in-house. The system can achieve a top aerial speed of 250 km/h (155 mph) and can recharge in 30 minutes.

While current range capabilities are 200 km, GAC believes its future solid-state battery technology will enable its eVTOLs to travel distances of up to 400 km (249 miles) on a single charge. According to GAC, it plans to initiate airworthiness certification for its eVTOLs in 2025 before building an assembly line to prepare for commercial operations in China.