Ehang has initiated trials of pilotless eVTOLs in central Shanghai. The company’s pilotless passenger-carrying aerial vehicle EH216-S is being used in the trials. It has also begun pilotless eVTOL-based sightseeing tours along Shanghai’s Huangpu River. The moves are aimed at realising urban air mobility in very large central cities.

The trials are designed to lay the foundation for regular commercial operations of urban air taxis in the Yangtze River Delta region centred around Shanghai.

The company is employing Longhua Airport, an airport in central Shanghai. It is also home to the East China General Aviation Service Centre of the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

EHang, Shanghai Hynfar Aviation, and New Margin Eastwood Fund, plan to develop a variety of urban low-altitude economy eVTOL operations. These include passenger transportation and urban sightseeing in the entire area of Shanghai and further covering cities and regions along the Yangtze River Delta G60 Science and Innovation Corridor (including nine cities across Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui provinces).

The Action Plan for High-Quality Development of Shanghai Low-Altitude Economy Industry (2024–2027) aims to position Shanghai as a leading hub for innovation, commercial applications, and operational services in the low-altitude economy. The anticipated core industry size is expected to exceed RMB50 billion by 2027.

The plan aims at achieving more than 100 low-altitude flight service applications in commercial scenarios such as logistics transportation, emergency rescue, cultural tourism, smart cities, and passenger transportation by 2027. It also promotes pilot projects for commercial passenger transport across and between major transportation hubs, such as Hongqiao International Airport, Pudong International Airport, and Longhua Airport, in addition to five new intra-city stops within Shanghai.

Mr Zhao Wang, EHang’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “As the world’s first pilotless passenger-carrying eVTOL that has obtained the Type Certificate, Production Certificate, and Standard Airworthiness Certificate from the CAAC, EH216-S’s successful debut flight in Shanghai has a great demonstration importance, signifying that large central cities in China are on the verge of entering the era of urban air taxi flight scenarios. With metropolises gradually advancing the development and operations of the low-altitude economy, EHang’s pilotless passenger-carrying eVTOLs are poised to become a key driver in UAM transformation.”