A growing number of research and production enterprises focused on electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft have emerged in China and are seeking the necessary certification to bring their products to the sky.
Volant, a Shanghai-based eVTOL developer, is seeking a type certificate (TC) for its 2.5-ton eVTOL aircraft, which is designed to carry one pilot and up to five passengers.
Currently, the company has signed preliminary cooperation agreements with numerous clients, with total orders exceeding 700 aircraft. However, before these partnerships can be realized, they must secure various safety certifications from local civil aviation authorities over the next one to two years.
"Obtaining certifications is a complex process involving hundreds of testing subjects. For example, the seats must be able to withstand 16 times the force of gravity throughout the aircraft's entire lifespan," said Huang Xiaofei, Vice President of Strategy at Volant.
Jiang Jun is the co-founder of TCab Tech, another eVTOL developer. A month ago, they also held a meeting to apply for a type certificate (TC) for their first model. He noted that China has a relatively well-developed environment for eVTOL aircraft manufacturing.
"Currently, the only component we import is the motor, which comes from the French manufacturer Safran. All other parts are made in China, so the entire supply chain is essentially complete," said Jiang.
Driven by the manufacturing demand for eVTOL aircraft, the industry is actively expanding and investing across various segments of the entire supply chain.
"For example, we have partnered with several leading universities and research institutes in Shanghai to innovate components and composite materials. We are also focusing on domestic chips and materials to replace imported components. I believe this represents a major opportunity for the entire industry," said Zhu Min, head of Shanghai STVC Group.
In 2024, the Shanghai municipal government issued an action plan aimed at supporting the development of over 10 leading eVTOL aircraft research and manufacturing enterprises, with the goal of attracting more than 100 key supporting companies by 2027.
"We are focused on building a comprehensive industrial system for the research and development, design, final assembly, trial testing, and commercial application of new low-altitude aircraft. We are leveraging municipal industrial special funds to accelerate the innovative research and manufacturing efforts of enterprises in Shanghai," said Guo Lei, director of the Major Equipment Industry Division of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization.
China’s eVTOL developers race to obtain certifications
