A worker in white gloves inspects the propellers of a boxy two-seater aircraft fresh off the assembly line at a Chinese factory trialling the mass production of flying cars.

Globally, technical and regulatory challenges have prevented the much-hyped flying car sector from getting off the ground.

But Chinese companies are building on rapid development of drones and electric vehicles (EVs) in the world's second-largest economy, while harnessing government support for the futuristic inventions.

"China has the potential to establish a competitive edge" for flying cars, said Zhang Yangjun, a professor at Tsinghua University's School of Vehicle and Mobility.

"Future competition will increasingly hinge upon cost control and supply-chain efficiency, and these are areas where China holds clear

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