Chinese electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft developer Autoflight has unveiled a new eVTOL aircraft capable of carrying payloads of up to 1,500 kilograms, positioning the model at the upper end of the emerging electric aviation market.
The aircraft, named Matrix, has been presented as a five-tonne-class eVTOL and has completed a public demonstration flight involving a full transition from vertical take-off to wing-borne cruise flight and back to vertical landing. Autoflight said this marks the first time an eVTOL of this size has publicly demonstrated such a flight profile.
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The Matrix has a wingspan of 20 metres, a length of 17.1 metres and a height of 3.3 metres, with a maximum take-off weight of 5,700 kg. Autoflight plans to offer both passenger and cargo versions. The passenger variant is designed with flexible cabin layouts, accommodating either 10 business-class seats or six VIP seats, and is fully battery-electric with a stated range of up to 250 kilometres.
For freight operations, Autoflight is developing a hybrid-powered cargo version with a targeted range of up to 1,500 kilometres. The cargo configuration supports a maximum payload of 1,500 kg and features a forward-opening cargo door sized to accept two AKE-standard air freight containers, a format commonly used in commercial aviation.
Tian Yu, founder and chief executive of Autoflight, said the Matrix is intended to challenge prevailing assumptions about the limits of eVTOL aircraft. “Matrix is not only a rising star in the aviation industry but also an ambitious industry disruptor,” he said, adding that the aircraft aims to move beyond the perception of eVTOLs as short-range, low-payload vehicles.
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Autoflight has attracted international investment in recent years. In 2021, Germany-based venture capital firm Team Global invested $100 million in the company, supporting the establishment of a research and development centre in Augsburg, which remains operational. In 2024, Autoflight delivered its five-seat Prosperity eVTOL to a customer in Japan, marking its first commercial delivery.
The company has also secured backing from CATL, the world’s largest battery manufacturer, which committed a triple-digit million-dollar investment. Last year, the two companies jointly unveiled a ship-based vertiport concept aimed at enabling offshore and maritime eVTOL operations.
