Flying taxis ready to take off in China: first companies receive official authorizations

For the first time, China has granted official approvals to Chinese companies EHang and its joint venture Hefei HeYi Aviation to operate autonomous passenger drones in urban areas, officially paving the way for commercial “flying taxi” services. With this move, China becomes the first country in the world to authorize urban transportation services using electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles. This development introduces the public to the “low-altitude economy,” involving various services ranging from cargo transport to rescue operations, carried out below 1,000 meters with drones and aircraft.

Initially, EHang will offer tourist flights limited to the cities of Guangzhou, in Guangdong province, and Hefei, in Anhui province, using the EH216-S, a two-seater electric vehicle developed over the past decade. The company’s future goal is to expand services to national public urban transportation.