The Civil Aviation Administration of China granted the world’s first airworthiness certificate for an autonomous electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to EHang’s EH216-S.
EHang’s US stock surged by over 70 percent on the news.
The EH216-S is a two-seater, suitable for passenger transportation and aerial logistics. EHang’s CEO Hu Huazhi has announced plans to begin commercial operations starting with low-altitude tourism.
According to Morgan Stanley and Deloitte, the global eVTOL market is projected to reach US$1 trillion (about 7 trillion yuan) by 2040, with China taking the lead. China has around 200 eVTOL manufacturers.
EHang has conducted trial operations in 20 locations over the past two years.
