If you’ve been watching the skies recently, you may have been surprised to see a car soaring through the clouds. A decade later than Marty McFly’s trip to the future, flying cars are finally a reality, with some set to hit the international market as soon as next year.

‍

The future of the automotive and aerospace industries is rapidly taking flight, and CNC machining is providing the wings.

‍

Machining takes flight

From spaceships and satellites, to supercars and Formula 1, CNC machining has been behind cutting-edge developments in the automotive and aerospace industries for decades.

‍

In both industries, vehicles are often pushed to their limits, meaning every part must have a high tolerance and last well in extreme conditions. While a disc or gear may be a fairly simple concept, there are plenty of oddly shaped pieces needed to create a crankshaft or a wing. Whether it's a Lamborghini grille or a landing systems research aircraft at NASA, CNC machining is perfect for creating flexible parts with a wide variety of complex geometries, without ramping up production costs.

‍

Given these benefits, it is also often used to create prototypes, allowing inventors to create one-off products as a proof of concept in a cost-effective manner. Many of the vehicles we use daily were initially nothing more than a part on a CNC machine, ready to be made into a ground-breaking prototype.

‍

Unsurprisingly, the automotive and aerospace industries have the two largest shares of the 2025 machining market, with the automotive industry alone accounting for 40.2% of the market share. The recent invention of the flying car is expected to have a major impact on the market, as the mass production of a vehicle that belongs to both the automotive and aerospace sectors could change the future of machining forever.

‍

Is it a bird, is it a plane?

It may sound far-fetched, but companies across the globe are racing to be the first to produce a flying car. These are the top three models that are set to hit the market in the next year, with a few to keep an eye on in the future.

Image courtesy of Klein Vision

Klein Vision - the AirCar

With a prototype unveiling in Beverly Hills, at the 2025 Living Legends of Aviation Gala Dinner in April, Klein Vision are aiming to have the AirCar ready for purchase in early 2026, for between $800,000 and $1million (depending on specifications).

‍

Unlike most flying cars (what a futuristic phrase), the AirCar is not electric but runs on conventional fuel, powered by a BMW engine. It works as both a car, with a top speed of 124mpg, and a plane, with a cruising speed of 155mph when airborne. Drivers are currently required to hold both a drivers and pilots license, but since the AirCar seats two, one lucky passenger can simply sit back and enjoy the ride.

‍

The AirCar has completed over 170 flight hours, and is expected to acquire a certificate of air worthiness by the end of September 2025. Klein Vision are then planning for the AirCar to undertake a series of flights across Europe, so keep an eye out!

Image courtesy of Xpeng Aeroht

Xpeng Aeroht - Land Aircraft Carrier

Shown in January at the 2025 CES tech show in Las Vegas, this unusual twist on a flying car is a two-in-one model, with a “mothership” car carrying an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVOTL) aircraft.

‍

The “mothership” is a six wheeled car, capable of seating up to four people, which acts as a takeoff and landing point for the eVOTL, as well as a charging point. The eVOTL has a two seat cockpit, with foldable blade arms and intelligent flight assistance for navigation.

‍

Last year, Xpeng Aeroht opened a manufacturing facility in Guangzhou, China, with four major workshops: Composites, Joint, Painting, and Assembly. The company manufactures all their essential components in house, allowing them to ensure everything meets strict regulatory requirements while maintaining cost efficiency.

‍

The eVOTL has already completed its first test flights in China and received its type certification approval. Xpeng Aeroht are aiming for mass production and delivery of the Land Aircraft Carrier in 2026, with a possible price tag of less than $300,000 (but don’t hold us to this).

‍

Image courtesy of Alef Aeronautics

Alef Aeronautics - Model A

Inspired by the flying DeLorean in Back to the Future II, Alef Aeronautics recently released a video of their Model 0 prototype, proving that flying cars are no longer science fiction. The California based company are now planning to produce and market the consumer ready Model A in the next 12 months.

‍

Billed as the first “real” flying car, the Model A seats one driver and one passenger, with eight propellers protected by an open mesh top and a whole aircraft emergency ballistic parachute in case of emergency. It is considered a low-speed vehicle as the current top driving speed is 25mph.

‍

The Model A is envisioned as a hop vehicle, enabling drivers to take to the air when stuck in traffic, and comes with an estimated price of $300,000. Traffic jams may soon be a thing of the past!

Ones to Watch

Image courtesy of AeroMobil

‍

AeroMobil - AM 4.0 and AM NEXT

The starting point of Stefan Klein, the creator of the AirCar detailed above, AeroMobil have been designing flying cars for decades, and currently have two prototypes, the AM 4.0 and the AM NEXT.

‍

The AM 4.0 is a two seater vehicle, designed to be a cross-over between supercar and personal plane that makes use of existing infrastructure in major cities.

‍

The AM NEXT is based on the 4.0, but seats four instead of two. Rather than a personal vehicle, the AM NEXT a fleet of aerial ride hailing service, providing hassle free transport for travellers.

‍

Due to unplanned delays, there is no current set date for production, but an “uber of the skies” may be coming soon.

‍

Image courtesy of FAW Group Co Ltd

FAW Group Co Ltd - HONGQI “TianNian No. 1”

Seen for the first time in April at the 21st Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition, the TinanNian No.1 has a flight range of over 200km, and is due to take its first flight test later this year.

‍

With an intelligent cockpit  and vertical take off and landing abilities, the maiden flight of the TianNian No.1 is one you won’t want to miss.

‍

So next year as you pilot your car through the skies to avoid rush hour, remember that every disc, wheel, and gear, was made with CNC machining. Who knows what will come next!

About AMFG

AMFG works with high-mix, low volume manufacturers across the globe, streamlining their operations with our cutting-edge software platform. Our scalable tools automate all stages of manufacturing operations, providing automatic quoting and order management, with 500+ integrations. Using our software, our clients can adapt to complex demand with efficiency and precision, securing their place at the forefront of the manufacturing industry.

‍

Book a Demo Today!

‍

For more information, please visit www.amfg.ai or contact: press@amfg.ai