World-First Autonomous Flying Taxis Are Set To Soar In China’s Skies

The Civil Aviation Administration of China made a historic move by granting its initial permits for autonomous drone operations that carry passengers. EHang Holdings in Guangdong Province, along with its subsidiary Heyi Aviation in Hefei, Anhui Province, received their air operator certificates from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) to operate unmanned passenger flights.

The launch of China’s human-carrying flight era in the low-altitude economy has started, according to EHang, who also announced that citizens can purchase tickets for urban sightseeing and commercial flight services in Guangzhou and Hefei.

EHang achieved the world’s initial test flight of a pilotless electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft with solid-state battery power during November 2024. The newest regulatory approval marks the end of the commercial service launch process. The aircraft begins service by flying short-distance tourist routes before the company plans to introduce urban transportation services.

China advances its low-altitude aviation industry through drone and blimp and autonomous aircraft integration. Flying taxis that recently received certification must follow rigorous safety protocols, operational standards, and maintenance requirements. Market research indicates that the industry will generate 1.5 trillion yuan (US$207 billion) by 2025 and may achieve double this value by 2035.

Development of the EH216-S eVTOL aircraft has spanned more than six years as the cornerstone of this initiative. The EH216-S eVTOL gained Chinese certification in October 2023 and secured series production approval in April 2024, which made it the first unmanned eVTOL to obtain a type certificate. The aircraft achieves a maximum speed of 81 mph (130 km/h) and operates with a range of 22 miles (35 km) through 5G connectivity and command center control.

EHang continues to collaborate with authorities for expanding their operations beyond tourism, which creates opportunities for air taxi adoption in urban transportation systems.