GAC’s flying taxi enters production

Chinese automotive giant GAC Group has reached a significant milestone in its push into urban air mobility, with the first production GOVY AirCab rolling off the assembly line at a new manufacturing facility in Guangzhou.

The AirCab is being developed by GOVY, GAC’s low-altitude mobility subsidiary, which focuses on the development, production and commercialisation of flying vehicles.

The rollout marks the transition of the AirCab from the prototype stage to industrial-scale production and certification, following the aircraft’s maiden flight in Guangzhou’s Haixinsha central business district in March.

GOVY officially opened its intelligent manufacturing facility in Guangzhou’s Huangpu District alongside the rollout of the first production aircraft.

The facility has a projected annual production capacity of 100 aircraft and incorporates aviation-grade manufacturing standards.

GOVY says it has filed 264 patents and established capabilities spanning research and development, manufacturing and large-scale production.

The company has also secured AS9100D Aerospace Quality Management System certification, an internationally recognised quality standard covering product development, manufacturing and testing.

The production version of the AirCab has completed a series of airworthiness-related tests, including structural load, endurance and electromagnetic compatibility testing, as it progresses towards certification.

GOVY says its strategy combines aviation safety standards with automotive manufacturing techniques in an approach it describes as “Aviation + Automotive”.

The company believes this model can help overcome some of the key barriers facing the flying vehicle industry, including high production costs and limited scalability.

The AirCab is being positioned for urban commuting and short-distance business travel, with GOVY targeting commercial deployment through partnerships with Chinese transport, tourism and technology companies. Two partners have already placed intention orders for the aircraft.

GOVY founder Qingpeng Su says the company’s goal is to make advanced mobility more accessible.

“The ultimate purpose of what we create is to make advanced mobility accessible to all and to build a three-dimensional transportation system that benefits both the nation and the public,” Su says.

The development forms part of a growing global race to commercialise electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, often referred to as flying taxis, with manufacturers around the world seeking regulatory approval and scalable production pathways.