AutoFlight Makes First Public Intercity Flight of Electric Air Taxi

The Chinese manufacturer said it was the first to achieve the milestone, flying about 31 miles between Shenzhen and Zhuhai.

Jack Daleo

Tuesday, February 27, 2024 at 02:20 PM ET

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AutoFlight’s Prosperity eVTOL air taxi flew autonomously between the Chinese cities of Shenzhen and Zhuhai. [Courtesy: AutoFlight]

Key Takeaways:

AutoFlight completed the world's first public intercity demonstration of an autonomous electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, flying its Prosperity eVTOL across China's Pearl River Delta in 20 minutes, a journey that typically takes three hours by car.
This demonstration is a key step in China's "low-altitude economy" strategy, aiming to develop hundreds of eVTOL routes and extensive infrastructure for passenger transport, logistics, and emergency services in the Greater Bay Area.
The five-seat Prosperity eVTOL, which holds the record for the longest eVTOL flight, operated autonomously and is expected to receive certification for crewed passenger flights within two years, with AutoFlight securing an initial order for 100 aircraft.

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China’s AutoFlight on Tuesday said it took an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft where one had never been before.

The manufacturer claims to have completed the world’s first public electric air taxi demonstration between two cities, flying its Prosperity eVTOL across the Pearl River Delta between the Chinese cities of Shenzhen and Zhuhai. The flight—a journey that would take about three hours by car—lasted just 20 minutes.