Wednesday, July 8

Chinese autonomous aerial vehicle maker Ehang has unveiled the VT35, a next-generation pilotless passenger eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft aimed at low-altitude intercity transportation. The new model builds on the earlier VT30 prototype and represents a key step in Ehang’s plan to expand its product line beyond urban air mobility into longer-range travel.

Launched at an event in Hefei, Anhui province, the VT35 features an upgraded lift-and-cruise design, tailored for medium- to long-range missions such as intercity, cross-sea, and cross-mountain routes. The model targets users seeking efficient air transport between urban centers, combining autonomous flight technology with extended flight endurance.

Ehang VT35 eVTOL. (Credit: Ehang)

The VT35 has an official Chinese market price of RMB 6.5 million ($910,000), positioning it above Ehang’s current flagship, the EH216-S, which retails at RMB 2.39 million. With a tandem-wing layout and two-seat configuration, the VT35 uses eight distributed lift propellers for vertical take-off and landing, then transitions to propulsion propellers and fixed wings for efficient cruise flight.

Ehang said the aircraft has a full-load range of around 200 kilometers, a significant improvement over its predecessor. Despite its performance upgrade, the VT35 has a more compact structure — about 8 meters in length and wingspan, 3 meters in height, and a maximum takeoff weight of 950 kilograms. It is also compatible with existing EH216-S vertiports and can operate from parks, rooftops, and parking lots, offering greater flexibility for urban and regional air mobility.

Ehang VT35 eVTOL. (Credit: Ehang)

In March 2025, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) accepted Ehang’s application for a Type Certificate (TC) for the VT35, marking an important milestone toward regulatory approval. The company said the aircraft is now undergoing airworthiness certification, with ongoing internal testing and flight trials to verify performance and safety standards.

Beyond its initial launch, Ehang plans to leverage the VT35 platform to develop additional aircraft models, including a tilt-rotor version that would offer higher speed and range capabilities. To accelerate market adoption, the company also signed cooperation agreements with multiple partners to promote the procurement, operation, and commercialization of the VT35.

Ehang VT35 eVTOL. (Credit: Ehang)

A platform company under the Hefei government has already placed purchase orders for the model, underscoring local institutional support for Ehang’s air mobility ambitions. In addition, Ehang signed an investment cooperation agreement with the Hefei municipal government in August to establish a VT35 product center, which will serve as a hub for production, R&D, and operational deployment.

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Harding Greenwood is an EV journalist at EVMagz.com, covering global developments in electric vehicle technology, battery innovation, charging infrastructure, and the evolving clean mobility industry across major international markets. He holds a degree in Media and Communication Studies and, outside of work, enjoys weekend landscape sketching, casual rowing, and collecting classic automotive brochures.

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