At the 5th China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, China unveiled its first dedicated low‑altitude economy exhibition zone, bringing together electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, drones and flying‑car prototypes under one roof to spotlight next‑generation solutions for urban congestion and tourism.
Industry leader EHang Holdings took center stage with three unmanned models, most notably its EH216‑S eVTOL, which has attained all four certificates required for commercial operation Type Certificate, Production Certificate, Standard Airworthiness Certificate and Operational Permit underscoring China’s regulatory readiness for passenger drones.
EHang’s EH216‑S has logged over 66,000 safe flights across 19 countries, including the United States, Japan, the United Arab Emirates and several European nations, demonstrating its versatility in passenger transport, aerial tourism, logistics and emergency medical services.
In late March, its affiliated operator secured China’s inaugural airworthiness certification for crewed urban air mobility services, marking a pivotal step toward fully autonomous commercial operations.
With plans to launch air taxi services as early as this year, EHang envisions rooftop‑to‑rooftop flights from vertiports in major cities, offering swift alternatives to ground traffic while doubling as air ambulances or rapid responders in emergencies. To support these ambitions, the company has already established more than twenty demonstration sites across sixteen Chinese cities, including Guangzhou and Shenzhen, and is now targeting Hainan’s island geography for low‑altitude tourism and intercity aerial networks.
China’s government work report released in March pledged demonstration initiatives for large‑scale application of emerging technologies and reinforced commitment to the safe, sound development of industries such as the low‑altitude economy. Reflecting this momentum, the Civil Aviation Administration of China forecasts market value growth from 500 billion yuan in 2023 to 1.5 trillion yuan by 2025, with the potential to reach 3.5 trillion yuan by 2035.
The low‑altitude economy’s rapid rise illustrates the synergy of technological innovation, regulatory evolution and strategic policy support in China. EHang’s full certification of the EH216‑S sets a global benchmark for commercial eVTOL operations, while demonstration sites in cities from Taiyuan to Wencheng build operational experience.
As China’s urban air mobility ecosystem matures, the country’s approach to “eVTOL diplomacy” forging partnerships and test corridors abroad suggests that its flying taxi ambitions may soon reshape not only domestic transport but also international industry standards.
