EHang, a Chinese drone maker, expects fixed-route air shuttle services in China by 2030.
Conor Yang, the company’s chief financial officer, said air taxi services could start in cities with the right take-off and landing infrastructure.
The company and its partner Hefei Heyi Aviation are the first to receive certification from China’s aviation authority to operate autonomous passenger drones.
Trial flights are ongoing in Guangzhou and Hefei, with official launches planned by the end of 2025.
EHang’s EH216-S aircraft carries two passengers, has a 30 km range, and can reach speeds of 130 km/h.
It sells for about 2.39 million yuan (US$331,000) on the Chinese ecommerce site Taobao.
EHang is also looking abroad, holding talks with Thailand’s aviation authorities after its first passenger flight in Bangkok, and sees growing interest in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.
