Chinese flying taxi manufacturer EHang is nearing the launch of its commercial service on the mainland, South China Morning Post reported. This follows the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC)’s acceptance of its application for an air operator certificate.
Based in Guangzhou, EHang announced that the CAAC has begun reviewing its application for a domestic air transport service licence.
‘We are one step closer to realizing our goal of commercially operating unmanned passenger-carrying aerial vehicles’, said EHang founder Hu Huazhi. He emphasized that this step is crucial for bringing urban air mobility to the consumer market. Hu highlighted that EHang is collaborating closely with the CAAC to develop a new operational system for pilotless aerial vehicles. He noted that accepting the world’s first operator certificate application for such cars is significant for the electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) industry.
Earlier this year, the CAAC awarded EHang’s EH216-S, the country’s first production certificate for a passenger-transport eVTOL aircraft.
Listed on the Nasdaq, EHang’s successful certification efforts represent a breakthrough in China’s comprehensive strategy to develop a low-altitude economy. This economy encompasses various industries related to manned and uncrewed eVTOL aircraft operating below 1,000 meters.
While the CAAC’s review process may take some time, this certification step underscores the potential for flying taxis in China’s domestic market, especially with Beijing’s support for the low-altitude economy. This sector has been identified as a strategic emerging industry and has received substantial investment and policy backing, similar to the country’s electric vehicle industry.
In March, EHang listed its EH216-S for sale at 2.39 million yuan (US$332,000) on Alibaba Group’s Taobao platform. The previous month, EHang announced the EH216-S would be available for US$410,000 outside the mainland starting April 1.
The EH216-S, known for its autonomous flight capabilities, fully electric propulsion, comprehensive redundancy safety features, and intelligent command-and-control systems, is positioned as an ideal solution for various urban air mobility applications. These include air taxi services, aerial tourism, airport shuttles, and cross-island transport.
