EHang predicts flying taxis will launch in China by 2030

EHang, a Chinese drone maker, expects fixed-route air shuttle services in China by 2030.

Conor Yang, the company’s chief financial officer, said air taxi services could start in cities with the right take-off and landing infrastructure.

The company and its partner Hefei Heyi Aviation are the first to receive certification from China’s aviation authority to operate autonomous passenger drones.

Trial flights are ongoing in Guangzhou and Hefei, with official launches planned by the end of 2025.

EHang’s EH216-S aircraft carries two passengers, has a 30 km range, and can reach speeds of 130 km/h.

It sells for about 2.39 million yuan (US$331,000) on the Chinese ecommerce site Taobao.

EHang is also looking abroad, holding talks with Thailand’s aviation authorities after its first passenger flight in Bangkok, and sees growing interest in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.

🔗 Source: South China Morning Post

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ China’s regulatory approach gives it first-mover advantage in eVTOL commercialization

While western aviation authorities have taken a cautious approach to flying taxi certification, China has moved decisively ahead with a more flexible framework for autonomous aircraft.

EHang’s certification achievement in 2023 made it the world’s first to receive type certification for a passenger-carrying autonomous eVTOL, giving Chinese companies a significant head start in the commercial market 1.

This regulatory advantage explains why EHang’s timeline for commercial operations (beginning in designated areas by the end of 2024) is much more aggressive than Western competitors who are still targeting 2025-2026 for their first commercial flights 2.

The CAAC’s approach to certification specifically for autonomous vehicles has created a pathway that contrasts sharply with the FAA and EASA’s more traditional certification processes, which were designed for conventional piloted aircraft 1.

This regulatory head start aligns with China’s broader strategic push to develop its “low-altitude economy,” with government initiatives providing both policy support and infrastructure investment to accelerate adoption.