In a major leap for drone logistics, EHang has successfully flown its VT20 drone on an intercity cargo route between Guangzhou and Zhuhai — two key cities in southern China’s bustling Greater Bay Area. The company’s electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft carried out a round trip covering over 103 miles, transporting fresh seafood and medical samples without a pilot onboard.

China-based air taxi developer EHang has received crucial government certification to begin mass production of its EH216-S passenger-carrying pilotless aircraft. The company is the first eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) developer in the world to obtain this kind of regulatory validation for its aircraft.

China’s top air taxi developer, EHang, not only beat its international rivals to become the world’s first startup to secure certification of its electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle (eVTOL), but it went a step further this month in becoming one of the very few manufacturers in the sector to reveal the list price of its craft – and an exceptionally low one, at that.

EHang continues to advance toward the introduction of air taxi services following the reception of the “Type Certificate” of its EH216-S electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) craft from China’s regulators, and most recently inaugurated its Urban Air Mobility (UAM) Operation Demonstration Center in Shenzhen’s Bao’an district. Yet despite – or perhaps because of – its continued progress, the startup’s US detractors appear bent on complicating its launch of passenger activity with repeated attacks.

China-based air taxi developer EHang has received crucial government certification to initiate commercial services with actual passengers in the country. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has issued a “Type Certificate” to EHang’s EH216-S aircraft, making it the world’s first fully certified electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi.

The Paris Air Show broke all records for attendance with its habitual large-draw long-haul passenger planes and military jets, but the main stars of the 2023 biannual event were arguably the next-generation electric takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxis making their first appearance.

Air taxi developer EHang is closing out March with a pair of announcements on its activities preparing for future advanced air mobility (AAM), including news its unpiloted passenger craft has entered the final phase of certification with China’s regulators.

EHang reported on the progress of its EH216-S air taxi in a communiqué on its 2022 financial results. In it the company said the craft had entered “the final phase of Demonstration and Verification of Compliance” with the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). It also suggested the vehicle might have advanced even closer toward final type certification (TC) if it hadn’t been for considerable disruptions caused by COVID-19 peaks in the country.

Read: Archer, United announce air taxi link between Chicago and O’Hare

In describing progress of EH216-S testing, EHang said “more than 90% of the entire TC process has been completed, which is believed to be the fastest progress among all TC projects of electric vertical take-off and landing (“eVTOL”) aircraft worldwide.”

 EHang added it had received over 100 orders for the future air taxi from customers in China, and that it continues adding to its over 34,000 test flights of the craft already made around the globe.

“At present, several EH216-S conforming aircraft, which were manufactured in EHang’s Yunfu production facility, have successfully passed the manufacturing conformity inspection by CAAC and are undergoing required compliance tests at flight bases in Guangzhou and Hezhou as well as laboratories in other locations,” the company said. “Based on the CAAC-agreed compliance test plans, more than 70% of tests have been or will be completed soon, including laboratory tests, ground tests and inspections, flight tests and data analysis.”

Read: EHang air taxi aids European testing of UAM air traffic projects

This week EHang also announced the successful completion of testing of an autonomous airborne beacon designed to improve positioning information on drones and AAM craft like air taxis.

The company said the year-long BAUD project with Spain’s Advanced Center for Aerospace Technologies and government ministries had been wrapped up with all objectives met. The system uses the UAV-transported beacon to interface with positioning platforms like Global Navigation Satellite Systems, the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service, and Galileo to communicate information on drone and AAM craft status, remote identification information, and other tactical data to surrounding U-Space operators. 

“We are delighted to announce the successful completion of the BAUD project, achieving all of its goals and objectives,” said Victoria Xiang, EHang chief operating officer for Europe and Latin America. “EHang welcomes public-private partnership opportunities for research, development, and investment in the UAS field in Spain. This has encouraged EHang to execute several innovation projects, share EHang’s world-leading technology and extensive international experience on Urban Air Mobility, and strengthen our wide technological collaboration network in Europe.”

China-based advanced air mobility (AAM) aircraft manufacturer EHang has struck an investment deal worth up to $20 million with a Chinese state-backed urban and economic development zone, suggesting the publicly listed company needs more cash than it possesses to continue working toward certification and production.

China’s leading developer of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) planes for air taxi operation, EHang, is broadening its work with authorities in Europe to help usher in urban air mobility (UAM) operating systems and services.

EHang, the China-based developer of next-generation aircraft for use in urban air mobility (UAM) services, has taken another step in its efforts to usher in the launch of air taxis around the globe by successfully completing demonstration flights of its EH216 in a European Union-sanctioned event.

European UAV research and innovation organization AiRMOUR has launched a series of tests using drones – including an EHang air taxi – to substantiate the potential advantages of the craft in responding to life-threatening medical emergencies.

Leading global urban air mobility (UAM) aircraft maker EHang has completed a successful four-city demonstration flight tour in Japan of its EH216 to mark the 1,000 day countdown to Osaka’s Expo 2025, which will serve as a showcase for developing technologies set to transform daily life.

Autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV) company EHang has found yet another partner to promote Urban Air Mobility (UAM) in Spain and Europe. ENAIRE, Spain’s national air navigation services provider, has agreed to collaborate with the Chinese eVTOL maker on the UAS traffic management project, U-Space.

China’s EHang, a pioneer in passenger-grade drones and urban air mobility solutions, is gearing up to offer air taxi services in Thailand through a joint venture with one of the country’s largest conglomerates CP Group.

EHang, a specialist in passenger-grade drones and urban air mobility (UAM) solutions, says it has received a pre-order for 100 units of its EH216 air taxis from an Indonesian aviation company. This is the largest pre-order EHang has received so far for its passenger-grade drone taxis in Asia.

Leading global autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV) company EHang has inched closer to eventual certification in China, after the country’s civil aviation authority specified the criteria the firm’s EH216-S air taxis will have to fulfill to obtain compliancy.

Flying air taxis may seem like a fantasy to most, but they could become a reality sooner than you think – at least in some parts of the world. A leading Japanese helicopter service provider, AirX, has placed a pre-order for 50 air taxi units from EHang, a pioneer in passenger-grade drones and urban air mobility (UAM) solutions.

Leading autonomous air vehicle (AAV) maker EHang stepped up its business development in Japan with a pair of notable deals, including securing the first order for its VT-30 long-range craft and deepening its work preparing the nation for looming urban air mobility (UAM) operations.

This week on Drone Camera Work’s weekly live show, Yifei and Seth discuss some of the top stories from the past week. Check out the top stories this week and watch the live Drone Camera Work news round-up show below.

Leading autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV) company EHang will start autonomous electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle test flights in China’s Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as part of a new exploratory partnership.

Chinese company EHang, a pioneer in passenger-grade drones and urban air mobility solutions, has announced that its flagship electric air taxi, EHang 216, and delivery drone, Falcon, have successfully completed Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) trial flights for airport transport and parcel delivery in Estonia.

Ever wondered how flying taxis get made? EHang, a pioneer in passenger-grade drones and urban air mobility solutions, has released a behind-the-scenes video that shows off the company’s fully-operational flying taxi production facility in all its glory.

As destructive wildfires become more and more commonplace across the globe, the use of drones in firefighting response is also quickly gaining pace. A new fire rescue drill video by Chinese company EHang shows how drones of different capabilities can work in tandem to accelerate firefighting efforts and emergency rescues at high-rise buildings in urban areas.

Chinese company EHang, one of the clear leaders of the pack when it comes to autonomous drones capable of carrying passengers or cargo, has announced another first: It has passed a technical evaluation of its EH216F AAV (Autonomous Aerial Vehicle), a drone built for firefighting.

The Guangdong province in southern China is witnessing a sudden uptick in COVID-19 cases. For the last three weeks, authorities have been carrying out mass testing and imposing local lockdowns to control the fresh coronavirus outbreak. And stepping up as first responders for relief and control efforts are drones.