Author: Matthew O’Connor

Shanghai has set out an ambition to become the world’s leading hub for electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, or eVTOLs, as China accelerates the development of its so-called low-altitude economy, according to a municipal policy document released on Thursday and reported by CnEVPost. The eastern Chinese megacity aims to build a comprehensive industrial ecosystem for next-generation low-altitude aircraft and position itself as the “world’s eVTOL capital,” the document said, outlining plans to establish a national-level advanced manufacturing cluster focused on the emerging sector. See also: BYD Denies Reports of Flying Car Project Following Online Speculation Under the roadmap, Shanghai…

EHang Holdings said it has completed the first public flight of its VT35 electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, marking a key milestone in the development of its next-generation unmanned aviation platform. The flight took place on December 28 at Bailong Airport in Hefei, eastern China, the company said in a statement. The VT35 is an upgraded version of EHang’s earlier VT30 model and is designed for medium- to long-range operations, including intercity, cross-sea, and mountainous transport. EHang said the successful test validated the aircraft’s flight performance, safety, and stability, laying the foundation for future airworthiness certification and expanded…

Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD on Monday denied reports that it is developing a flying car, following the circulation of online claims suggesting the company was preparing to launch an aerial vehicle under its premium Yangwang brand. Li Yunfei, BYD’s general manager of brand and public relations, said the reports were inaccurate. “We have no such plans or arrangements. In the face of online traffic, we must exercise restraint,” Li wrote in a post on social media platform Weibo. See also: BYD Raises Pay for R&D Staff as China Seeks to Tame EV Sector Competition The clarification came after a…

Indian aerospace startup Sarla Aviation has begun ground testing of its electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft at its facility in Bengaluru, marking a key step toward its goal of launching commercial air taxi operations by 2029. The company said it is testing a half-scale prototype known as the Sylla SYL-X1, which features a wingspan of 7.5 metres and is fully electric. Sarla Aviation described the aircraft as the largest and most advanced privately developed eVTOL of its kind in India. The ground-testing phase focuses on validating structural behaviour, propulsion system integration and overall safety performance. Developed in around…

EVIO has made its public debut with the launch of its EVIO 810 hybrid-electric regional aircraft, saying it has secured conditional purchase agreements and options covering 450 aircraft as it targets entry into service in the early 2030s. The U.S.-based startup said it is supported by investment and technical assistance from Boeing and is working with RTX’s Pratt & Whitney Canada on propulsion technology for the aircraft. EVIO is targeting the 50- to 100-seat segment, aiming to offer improved efficiency and lower emissions compared with existing regional turboprops and jets. See also: Horizon Aircraft Partners With F1-Linked Motion Applied on…

Indian aerospace startup Sarla Aviation said it plans to build what it describes as the world’s largest dedicated manufacturing facility for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, as it seeks to establish India as a hub for urban air mobility. The company said the proposed “giga-facility” will be located in Thimmasamudram village in the Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh and will integrate manufacturing, flight testing, certification, training and maintenance at a single site. Co-founder and chief technology officer Rakesh Gaonkar said the project is intended to cover the full lifecycle of eVTOL aircraft within India for the first time.…

British electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) developer Vertical Aerospace unveiled its new aircraft model, Valo, and said it is aiming for certification by 2028, marking a step toward commercial electric flight. Valo is the commercial successor to the VX4 prototype, which completed a piloted flight in the UK earlier this year. The new aircraft is designed for flights of up to 160 kilometres at speeds of up to 240 km/h, with initial use cases focused on routes linking city centres and airports. See also: Vertical Aerospace Completes First eVTOL Flight Between Airports Through Public Airspace Vertical Aerospace said Valo…

Eve Air Mobility, the air taxi development unit of Brazilian aerospace group Embraer, has selected U.S.-based Beta Technologies to supply electric pusher motors for its electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The agreement establishes a long-term supplier relationship between the two companies, with the contract potentially spanning up to ten years and valued at up to $1 billion. The deal follows a period of technical evaluation where Eve tested and validated the performance of Beta’s electric motors in its technical prototype, a phase preparing the company for its first scheduled flight by the end of this year or early…