China is leading the eVTOL industry’s advancement, with regulators expediting approvals for electric aircraft capable of vertical take-off and landing or eVTOL vehicles.
eVTOLs take off like helicopters but are also capable of flying like planes at higher speeds.
Chinese eVTOL company AutoFlight Group’s VP, Kellen Xie, lauded China’s Civil Aviation Administration’s supportive role.
“CAAC regulators “work longer hours” and “are determined to actually speed up the process of bringing this new technology into reality,” Xie told the Financial Times.
China in March issued certification for AutoFlight’s unmanned CaryAll aircraft, becoming the first country to approve an eVTOL over 1 metric ton for flight, according to FT.
AutoFlight is still awaiting regulatory approval in Europe, the report added.
The US regulators have already given greenlight to eVTOLs. Alef Aeronautics’ Model A, combining driving and flying functions, received FAA approval, garnering over 2,850 reservations by March, while Aska secured FAA certification for its aircraft-like prototype. These developments underscore global progress in the quest for flying cars.
China’s AutoFlight delivers first electric air taxi to customer in Japan
AutoFlight has successfully completed the first delivery of its Prosperity aircraft to a customer in Japan, marking the debut of a civilian ton-class eVTOL aircraft.
The five-seater Prosperity was received by an innovative Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) operator in Japan. The operator plans to showcase eVTOL flights at the 2025 Osaka World Expo as well as a wider AAM rollout in Japan.
Ehang earrns production certificate for eVTOL Aircraft
In a separate development, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has granted EHang a production certificate, allowing the company to commence large-scale series production of its EH216-S autonomous eVTOL aircraft. This approval, announced at an event in Guangzhou, comes nearly six months after EHang became the world’s first eVTOL manufacturer to achieve type certification on October 13.
The electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) market could be worth $1 trillion by 2040, according to JPMorgan. Commonly referred to as flying cars, air taxis, or passenger drones, eVTOLs have garnered significant interest, with numerous companies actively developing their own vehicles in anticipation of their potential debut within this decade.