European company sells flying car technology to Chinese firm

This deal has been described as a groundbreaking move towards a future where drivers can take their cars to the skies to avoid traffic.

The European developer of the “world’s first certified flying car” has sold the technology behind it to a Chinese firm.

Slovakia-based company KleinVision, which developed the AirCar, has announced it has sold a geographically limited license for producing certified flying car technology to Hebei Jianxin Flying Car Technology Co.

It grants the Chinese company exclusive rights to manufacture and distribute certified flying cars using KleinVision’s technology “within a specific geographical region”, but that area was not disclosed.

The amount the license was sold for was also undisclosed.

The sale was described as a groundbreaking move towards allowing drivers to avoid traffic by taking to the skies in their cars.

Slovakia-based company KleinVision developed the AirCar, which is a car that turns into an aircraft in less than three minutes. Picture: KleinVision

“This partnership represents a significant step in our mission to expand global access to revolutionary mobility solutions and drive progress in the industry,” KleinVision co-founder Anton Zajac said.

The AirCar is a two-seat flying car with retractable wings, folding tail surfaces, and even a parachute deployment system. It is powered by a BMW engine.

The tech behind the AirCar has now been sold to a Chinese firm. Picture: KleinVision

In June 2021 the AirCar prototype reached a significant milestone, completing a 35 minute flight between airports in Nitra and Bratislava in Slovakia.

It took two minutes and 15 seconds to transform from car into aircraft.

“This flight starts a new era of dual transportation vehicles,” inventor Stefan Klein said at the time.

Mr Zajac added: “AirCar is no longer just a proof of concept; flying at 8200 feet at a speed of 100 knots, it has turned science fiction into a reality.”

The Jianxin Group has exclusive rights to manufacture and distribute flying cars using KleinVision’s technology “within a specific geographical region”. Picture: KleinVision

In January 2022, KleinVision said the AirCar had been awarded a Certificate of Airworthiness by the Slovak Transport Authority, following the successful completion of 70 hours of flight testing with more than 200 takeoffs and landings.

Mr Klein said the certification opened the door for “mass production of very efficient flying cars”.

American YouTuber MrBeast, who is the individual with the most subscribers on the platform, featured the AirCar in a video last year.

“I can’t even believe my eyes,” he said. “There’s a car a mile above my head right now.”

He said the car was worth $US600,000 ($919,950).