A homegrown passenger-carrying electric unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) model has entered mass production in south China's Guangdong Province, with plans to deploy the aircraft as "flying taxis" later this year.
Developed by Chinese drone maker EHang, the EH216-S, capable of accommodating two adults without a pilot onboard, offers short-to-medium distance low-altitude mobility solutions for urban transportation needs.
It has wide potential applications in fields like passenger transportation, air tours, air logistics and medical emergency response.
Following approval by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) on April 7, mass production commenced at the factory located in Guandong's Yunfu City, with a target of achieving an annual production capacity of 600 units.
It is the first time the country's aviation authority has issued a production certificate for an autonomous passenger drone, as well as the first such certificate in the global electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) industry. Previously, the EH216-S had obtained the type certificate and standard airworthiness certificate from the authority.
Enabled by 4G and 5G communication networks, the UAVs boast features such as ultra-high-definition video transmission, remote real-time management with minimal latency, and precise positioning capabilities.
Looking ahead, EHang plans to further enhance its UAVs by developing high-performance and fast-charging battery systems, aiming to reduce charging times to just 5 to 10 minutes in the near future.
Production of flying taxis underway in south China
