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WATCH: First-of-Its-Kind Electric Aircraft Lifts Off in China

Manufacturer AutoFlight says Matrix represents inaugural ‘5-ton class’ eVTOL flight.

Friday, February 06, 2026 at 09:00 AM ET

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AutoFlight unveiled its ‘5-ton class’ electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) Matrix aircraft with a public flight demonstration in China. [Credit: AutoFlight]

Key Takeaways:

Chinese manufacturer AutoFlight unveiled and publicly demonstrated its "Matrix" eVTOL aircraft, billed as the world's first 5-ton class, designed to carry up to 10 passengers or significant cargo.
The Matrix features a unique "triplane" configuration and aims to expand eVTOL capabilities beyond short-haul, low-load flights, offering an all-electric range of 155 miles and a hybrid range of up to 932 miles.
This debut highlights China's rapid progress in eVTOL integration, with AutoFlight's smaller CarryAll cargo eVTOL already having received key certifications in the country.

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A Chinese manufacturer this week unveiled one of the most unique-looking aircraft to be developed in recent years—and took it out for a public demonstration flight.

Per developer AutoFlight, the debut sortie of Matrix—which it bills as the “world’s first 5-ton class” electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft—lasted about 20 minutes. The full-scale prototype flew alongside the company’s CarryAll cargo eVTOL, which is one of the first of its kind to receive type, production, and airworthiness certification from a regulator, China’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAAC).

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.