Tsinghua University's flying car project lands in Hefei

The Grand Union of Innovation (GUi) has welcomed a new member with the arrival of Tsinghua University's Lion Team and their smart flying car project.

The team plans to establish its headquarters in Hefei, where it will also set up a joint research and development center and production lines for complete vehicles and key components.

In 2017, the team extended its expertise in autonomous driving into the field of flying cars, anticipating the rise of China's low-altitude economy.

"Our product is both a car and an aircraft," said Wu Quanquan, the project's industrial general manager.

Wu Quanquan presents the project overview. [Photo/GUi]

The Tsinghua Lion Team has developed the world's first fully electric rotor-type flying car, integrating advanced flight technology with intelligent driving systems. Their innovations have earned 85 patents worldwide and five international gold medals for invention.

Compared to light, low-altitude aircraft on the market, their first model falls under the "ultra-light" category. It is designed for controlled settings such as leisure flights and extreme sports, with a speed under 100 kilometers per hour.

For Wu, a Hefei native, returning the project to his hometown was a strategic choice. "Hefei's talent pool, new energy vehicle industry, and airspace resources are a perfect match for our technology," he said.

With support from the GUiTEK Service Platform, Shushan district, and scenario application companies, the project has tapped into a range of resources, including insurance partners and leasing firms.

Home to more than 500 core component enterprises in the EV sector, Hefei offers fertile ground for the future of smart flying cars.

The collaboration is a win-win: Hefei provides the ecosystem, and the Tsinghua Lion Team strengthens the city's low-altitude economy.

In 2025, Tsinghua Lion Team will focus on completing its research and development center and the first production line. From 2026 to 2027, it aims to achieve large-scale production of its aircraft. After 2028, it plans to build a low-altitude transportation network to enable safe and large-scale operations.