China Greenlights Autonomous Air Taxis: Two Companies Ready for Takeoff
By approving autonomous passenger drones for commercial use, China has made a major advancement in its low-altitude economy. According to the South China Morning Post, EHang Holdings and Hefei Hey Airlines have been granted air operator permits by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), enabling them to begin pilotless urban sightseeing trips.
An Important Development in Urban Air Mobility
The firms' successful completion of stringent regulatory procedures, such as type certification, production certification, and airworthiness certification, led to this historic ruling. Low-altitude tourism will be the first significant use of this invention, according to analysts at Citic Securities, and EHang's urban flights are anticipated to spur the expansion of the sector.
The Government's Initiative to Promote a Low-altitude Economy
Beijing is aggressively pushing the low-altitude economy, which includes flying cars, blimps, and passenger drones. This industry, together with developments in biomanufacturing, quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and 6G networks, is viewed by the Chinese government as a key engine of economic growth.
The low-altitude economy has the potential to be a powerful engine that propels China's rapid economic development, according to Cheng Bolin, vice president of the China Information Association's low-altitude unit.
Leading the Way in Autonomous Aviation with EHang
The world's first business to obtain a production certificate for producing electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles in China is EHang, a prominent participant in autonomous aviation. Its EH216-S model is a two-seater, totally electric drone with 16 propellers that is intended for sightseeing tours, airport transfers, and air taxi services. With a top height of 3,000 meters and a cruise speed of 100 km/h, the EH216-S is poised to transform urban transportation.
Market Growth and Industry Rivalry
China's low-altitude economy is expected to rise to a market value of 1.5 trillion yuan by 2025, and by 2035, it is expected to reach 2.5 trillion yuan, according to research firm Hurun. Global aircraft giants like Boeing, Airbus, and Embraer are also looking for prospects in this market, while domestic firms like EHang and Feihang Aviation are vying with automakers like Xpeng and Geely.
China is positioned to lead the world in urban air transportation thanks to the government's support for the low-altitude economy and businesses' quick innovation. In the skies over China, the era of autonomous passenger drones is becoming a reality rather than a pipe dream.