American lawmakers and regulators have big plans for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxis. But China continues to look like it will be the first country in the world to introduce high-flying urban air mobility (UAM) services to the public.
Chinese manufacturer EHang—which a few months ago became the first company to obtain type certification for an eVTOL air taxi design—said it has now obtained airworthiness approval for its self-flying EH216-S model, clearing the way for a commercial launch in the coming months.
The firm also delivered its first air taxi to a customer: Eton, an intelligent aviation technology subsidiary of Guangzhou Development District Communications Investment Group Co. That company is managed by the local government of the Huangpu District in Guangzhou, where EHang is based.
“Today, we have set another milestone with the first AC for pilotless passenger-carrying eVTOL aircraft and started commercial delivery of the certified EH216-S to our customer,” said Huazhi Hu, founder, chairman, and CEO of EHang. “In the near future, we anticipate an increasing number of aircraft rolling off from our production line to gradually fulfill our backlog orders, thereby serving more customers and passengers.”
Chinese manufacturer EHang—which a few months ago became the first company to obtain type certification for an eVTOL air taxi design—said it has now obtained airworthiness approval for its self-flying EH216-S model, clearing the way for a commercial launch in the coming months.
The firm also delivered its first air taxi to a customer: Eton, an intelligent aviation technology subsidiary of Guangzhou Development District Communications Investment Group Co. That company is managed by the local government of the Huangpu District in Guangzhou, where EHang is based.
“Today, we have set another milestone with the first AC for pilotless passenger-carrying eVTOL aircraft and started commercial delivery of the certified EH216-S to our customer,” said Huazhi Hu, founder, chairman, and CEO of EHang. “In the near future, we anticipate an increasing number of aircraft rolling off from our production line to gradually fulfill our backlog orders, thereby serving more customers and passengers.”
