Chinese drone maker EHang is positioning itself at the forefront of urban air mobility with plans to launch flying taxi services in China by 2030. According to Conor Yang, EHang’s Chief Financial Officer, “By 2030, China will likely have fixed-route air shuttle services,” and cities with sufficient take-off and landing infrastructure could see air taxi services emerge even sooner[1][2].
## Certification and Current Progress
EHang has already achieved a significant milestone in the industry. In March 2025, EHang and its joint venture partner Hefei Heyi Aviation became the first companies globally to receive certification from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) to operate autonomous passenger drones[1][2]. This certification covers their twin-passenger EH216-S aircraft, which has impressive specifications:
– Top speed: 130 km/h
– Range: 30 km
– Price: 2.39 million yuan (approximately US$331,000) on Taobao[1][2]
The company is currently conducting trial flights in Guangzhou and Hefei to collect and analyze operational data before launching services in designated areas in these two cities by the end of 2025[1][4].
## Expansion Plans
EHang’s ambitions extend beyond their current model and domestic operations:
– The company plans to debut its new VT-35 model this quarter, designed specifically for intercity, cross-bay, and cross-mountain travel[2]
– Two new battery solutions are expected to be introduced later this year[2]
– Production capacity is set to increase from 300 to 1,000 aircraft units annually by the end of 2025[2]
– International interest is strong, particularly in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Latin America[1]
– EHang is in discussions with Thailand’s civil aviation authorities following a successful maiden passenger flight in Bangkok in November[1]
## Market Potential
China is actively promoting its “low-altitude economy,” defined as industries operating aerial vehicles below 1,000 meters. This sector is projected to reach 1.5 trillion yuan by 2025 and 2.5 trillion yuan by 2035, according to CAAC estimates[2]. The China Low Altitude Economic Alliance has even more ambitious projections, estimating that the country could have up to 100,000 eVTOLs (electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft) in operation by 2030[2].
As urban transportation challenges continue to grow worldwide, EHang’s progress represents a significant step toward practical implementation of flying taxi services, potentially transforming urban mobility in China and beyond.