Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft designed by Chinese startup Vertaxi have become a highlight at the ongoing 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE) as the company unveils its vision for the future of autonomous flight without the need for a runway.
Alongside world-leading car and high-tech manufacturers that have been showcasing breakthroughs in smart technology, safety, and sustainability at the expo, Vertaxi took the limelight in the low-altitude economy category.
The company's eVTOLs at the ongoing event stand atop "vertiports" -- platforms designed specifically to accommodate air taxis and low-altitude aircraft.
"We believe vertiports like this will be in every corner of the city just like bus stops. This is our fresh model M1. Its design range is about 250 kilometer and its cruising speed is around 200 kilometers per hour. It is designed to solve the short distance travel inter or between cities or even between islands. It supports autonomous flight, so it does not require pilots and it does not require a runway," said Chen Xinyi, a marketing manager of the company.
Chen said the company is aiming to fully certify their eVTOLs in the coming years and enter full-scale production soon after.
"We have already applied for TC (type certification) from CAAC (Civil Aviation Administration Of China) in January 2023. We are about to get our cargo certification first in 2026, and the passenger certification in 2027 or 2028, and scale up business operation in 2030," she said.
Themed "New Era, Shared Future", this year's CIIE runs from Nov 5 to 10. It features the largest exhibition area in its history and a record 4,108 overseas exhibitors from 155 countries, regions, and international organizations.
China-designed air taxi draws eyes at 8th CIIE
