Chinese electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) developer Ehang has successfully completed the maiden flight of its EH216-S eVTOL in Shanghai, marking a key milestone in the development of urban air mobility within the megacity.
The flight took place at Longhua Airport, situated near the Huangpu River in downtown Shanghai. Following the successful flight, Ehang announced plans to launch regular trial runs for eVTOL sightseeing tours, paving the way for the future commercialization of air taxi services in the city.
Ehang has partnered with HYNFAR-UAM, the first company in Shanghai to specialize in eVTOL operations, to explore the potential for manned transportation, tourism, and other use cases in the region. The collaboration aims to lay the foundation for regular air mobility services in Shanghai, which has been a key focus for the company.
China has been easing restrictions on low-altitude airspace in recent years, which has spurred growth in the low-altitude economy. Shanghai’s government took a further step by unveiling a comprehensive action plan in August 2024, aimed at developing a complete industrial system for low-altitude aircraft by 2027. The city aims for this new sector to contribute over RMB 50 billion ($6.8 billion) to the local economy and emerge as a global leader in low-altitude innovations.
The EH216-S, which has a maximum takeoff weight of 620 kilograms and is powered by batteries, can reach a maximum speed of 130 kilometers per hour with a range of 25 minutes per flight. In February 2024, Ehang announced an official guide price for the EH216-S at RMB 2.39 million.
In a sign of growing demand, Ehang reported a record delivery of 63 units of the EH216 series in the third quarter of 2024, the highest quarterly delivery volume in its history. The company has delivered a total of 138 units of the EH216 family in the first three quarters of last year.
The EH216 family includes variants for different applications, such as the standard EH216-S for passenger transport, the EH216-F for aerial firefighting, and the EH216-L for aerial logistics.