China’s EHang Earns World’s First eVTOL Type Certificate

The electric air taxi manufacturer could launch commercial passenger services as early as this year, which would beat out U.S. and European rivals.

Jack Daleo

Friday, October 13, 2023 at 03:14 PM ET

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EHang rang in the type certification milestone with a ceremony at the CAMIC International Convention Center in Beijing on October 13. [Courtesy: EHang]

Key Takeaways:

EHang, a Chinese eVTOL manufacturer, has obtained the world's first type certification for its autonomous EH216-S air taxi from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).
This significant approval allows EHang to begin commercial passenger transportation and tourism operations in China, positioning the country as an early leader in the urban air mobility (UAM) sector.
The certification for EHang's pilotless aircraft provides a crucial benchmark for global regulators and offers the company a first-mover advantage in gaining operational insights over international competitors.

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Chinese manufacturers DJI and Autel are dominating the drone market, even within the U.S. But much to the chagrin of American lawmakers—who have proposed and passed several measures to counter China’s drone dominance—a Chinese firm looks set to gobble up early market share for another emerging aviation technology.

EHang, an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi manufacturer, on Friday obtained Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) type certification for its EH216-S, making it the first eVTOL aircraft in the world with such an approval. Type certification will allow EHang to operate the self-flying, two-passenger aircraft on commercial transportation and tourism routes in China.