An EHang all-electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) two-passenger multicopter aircraft, performs an unmanned display flight at a Korean government event at Yeouido island in Seoul on November 11, 2020.
Ed Jones | Afp | Getty Images
BEIJING — Self-driving air taxis are one step closer to reality in China.
Guangzhou-based Ehang announced on Friday that it has received an airworthiness “type certificate” from the Civil Aviation Administration of China for its fully autonomous drone, the EH216-S AAV, capable of carrying two passengers. This certificate allows Ehang to operate passenger-carrying autonomous electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in China. It is the first company in the world to obtain such a certification, which marks a significant milestone in the development of self-driving air taxis.
The CEO of Ehang, Huazhi Hu, stated in a CNBC video conference interview that this certification will also simplify the process of obtaining similar certificates for commercial operation in other regions such as the U.S., Europe, and Southeast Asia. However, Hu emphasized that regulators in those regions need to establish a mutual regulation process for the Chinese airworthiness certification.
The market capitalization of Ehang is approximately $1 billion, and the company’s shares have nearly doubled in price this year.
Global regulatory action
In July, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released a plan that outlines steps to allow similar autonomous flying vehicles, but initially requires pilots on board. Joby Aviation, one of the leading players in the U.S., recently expanded its flight test program to include a pilot on board, although it has not yet mentioned carrying passengers. China has been actively paving the way for autonomous flying vehicles to gain certification, with new rules for unmanned aircraft flight set to take effect in 2024.
Ehang is currently evaluating which city in China will be the first to witness its air taxi passenger flight, but no specific date has been disclosed. The CEO of Ehang, Huazhi Hu, highlighted that China is the largest and fastest-growing market for self-driving air taxis.
In the second quarter, Ehang partnered with Xiyu Tourism to establish a joint venture aimed at developing low-altitude tourism using Ehang vehicles. They have received overseas pre-orders for over 1,200 units.
According to Hu, while the industry is still in its early stage, he predicts that air taxis will become a common sight in many cities within the next five years.
Safety track record
Hu mentioned that Ehang started conducting autonomous aerial flight testing in 2017. Although there were some vehicle incidents during the early experimental period, Ehang has maintained an excellent safety track record in subsequent tens of thousands of flights, including those overseas.
He also highlighted the difference between self-driving taxis and self-piloting drones, stating that while cars must navigate intersections, drones simply travel between two points in the air.
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