NAVEE has opened pre-orders for the WaveFly 5X, a luxury electric “flying speedboat” designed to skim just above the water. With a hefty $200,000 starting price, this water-and-air vehicle delivers an 85 km/h (53 mph) top speed and is aimed at people looking for a new toy to replace their Ferrari.
On June 4, 2026, I attended the NAVEE launch event in Suzhou, where the WaveFly 5X was the star of the show. There, the mobility brand also showed a broader lineup, including fast e-scooters, an electric dirt bike, e-golf push carts, an exoskeleton, and a prototype eVTOL Karting 5 flying car, which I covered in my hands-on article.
NAVEE’s CEO, Lu Jian, took the WaveFly 5X out for its first flight at Dong Taihu Lake, in front of media, partners, and guests. From the shore, it looked like a compact aircraft flying fast just above the water’s surface.
NAVEE CEO Lu Jian, ready to disembark from the WaveFly 5X after the test flight.
The WaveFly 5X is a consumer-grade wing-in-ground (WIG) craft, meaning it uses ground effect rather than flying high like a traditional aircraft. Ground effect is the cushion of air that forms between a wing and a nearby surface. In the WaveFly 5X, that surface is water, so the craft is designed to fly only about 30 to 80 cm above it, for up to 70 minutes.
The craft delivers up to 80 km of range and supports a maximum load of 140 kg. It features a tandem-wing aerodynamic layout, dual 17,700W electric motors, an aerospace-grade carbon fiber body, and a low-drag lift-off system to reduce resistance from the water.
The WaveFly 5X can take off from lakes, coasts, or islands without a runway or airport. It also uses push/pull controls that NAVEE claims make it simpler to operate than a boat, and the company says no pilot license is needed. That claim will still depend on local laws and where buyers will use the craft.
During the presentation, Shicheng Zhang, NAVEE Aircraft Product Manager, highlighted a ground-effect air cushion that reduces wave impact, a millisecond-response flight control system, a low center of gravity, and an aerospace-grade composite structure. All those features are meant to improve stability and safety. According to NAVEE, the ride is “seasickness-free,” making the WaveFly 5X smoother than a boat while being easier to maneuver than a plane.
The NAVEE flying speedboat is fully electric, uses a hot-swappable battery, and supports customization options for an additional fee. The company also pointed out sustainable materials as part of the design. This high-end recreational vehicle is targeted at waterfront owners, resorts, private islands, and early adopters who want something different from a jet ski or speedboat.
NAVEE confirmed that multiple distributors have signed letters of intent to bring the WaveFly 5X to key international markets, including North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific.
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