First eVTOL Flight in Central Asia - AutoFlight Completes Landmark Demonstration in Kazakhstan

ALATAU CITY, Kazakhstan, May 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- AutoFlight has successfully completed the first ton-class eVTOL demonstration flight in Alatau City, Kazakhstan – marking the first electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) Urban Air Mobility (UAM) flight in Central Asia.

The milestone was achieved in collaboration with Alatau Advance Air Group Ltd. (AAAG), which has already purchased and paid for AutoFlight's large-scale eVTOL. During the flight ceremony, the two parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for an additional 50 units of the V2000/V5000 series eVTOL, supporting low-altitude transport across Kazakhstan and the wider region.

The first vertiport in Alatau City is already under construction on the demonstration site, which will soon become the UAM Center Eurasia – Kazakhstan's first urban air mobility hub.

"This is more than a demonstration of a new technology. It represents a transition toward a new model of urban development, where innovation, digital transformation, and advanced mobility solutions become a new economic sector." said Alisher Abdykadyrov, CEO of Alatau City Authority.

AAAG and Alatau City Bank intend to collaborate on advancing the attraction of foreign investment and supporting liquidity mechanisms to facilitate the execution of AAAG's strategic initiative. Vyacheslav Kim, shareholder of Alatau City Bank: "On May 8, 2026, the Head of State signed the Constitutional Law 'On the Special Legal Regime of the City of Alatau'. This establishes the foundation for the development of high-tech sectors such as the Low Altitude Economy. The President's support has enabled us to establish UAM Center Eurasia and attract some of the world's leading technology partners to Kazakhstan."

AutoFlight will work closely with AAAG and Kazakh authorities to advance airworthiness certification, operational standards, and pilot training frameworks across the region.

About AutoFlight
AutoFlight is a global leader in eVTOL technology, providing comprehensive Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) solutions including cargo and passenger eVTOL aircraft. In August 2024, AutoFlight secured strategic investment from CATL.

About Alatau Advance Air Group Ltd.
Private Company Alatau Advance Air Group Ltd. (AAAG) is an innovative company headquartered in Kazakhstan, focusing on low-altitude economy technologies and infrastructure within the new Alatau City smart development.

 

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First eVTOL Flight in Central Asia - AutoFlight Completes Landmark Demonstration in Kazakhstan

BEIJING, May 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- As the 2026 Auto China kicked off, GAC unveiled a major upgrade to its global strategy. At that time, leveraging the global auto industry's focus on China, GAC Middle East and Africa media launched a China Experience Tour. A total of 21 mainstream media and industry KOLs from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Egypt, South Africa, Ethiopia and other countries traveled across Guangzhou and Beijing, immersing themselves in GAC's full-chain intelligent manufacturing, testing global models, and discussing GAC's blueprint for the Middle East and Africa markets.

The delegation toured GAC's Guangzhou base, visiting factories and the GAC Technology Museum to experience the full intelligent manufacturing chain. Later, they test-drove the GS7 PHEV and other models, building momentum for the GS7's upcoming launch in the region. Subsequently, they appeared at the Auto China 2026 booth, witnessing GAC's strategic upgrade aimed at becoming a leading Chinese auto exporter by 2030 through three pathways: In Local, For Local; Technology-driven; Ecosystem Co-construction.

The Middle East and Africa is a core strategic market in GAC's global layout. This experience tour was not only a showcase of technology and products, but also a journey of brand trust and cultural communication. Throughout the tour, authoritative media and KOLs from the region shared content via short videos, in-depth reviews, and graphic reports on major social platforms and media outlets. As of now, African KOLs have generated over 2.32 million exposures and over 220,000 interactions, with a single video reaching 1.7 million views. These efforts have turned them into powerful witnesses and communicators of the GAC brand in the region, bringing a real and three-dimensional "Tech GAC, Global GAC" to local markets and effectively enhancing brand influence and market anticipation.

Moving forward, GAC International will continue to uphold the principles of Craftsmanship, Trust, Technology and Ecosystem, stay committed to "In Local, For Local," optimize its product and service matrix for the Middle East and Africa, empower global smart mobility with Chinese intelligent manufacturing, and move forward together with users and partners in the region.

For further information about GAC, please visit: https://www.gacgroup.com/en or follow us on social.

 

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Strong African Momentum｜Middle East & Africa Media Visit GAC, Witness the Strength of Chinese Smart Manufacturing