Chinese eVTOL maker Ehang completes a demo flight with passengers in the UAE

Ehang completed a passenger demo flight of the EH216-S in the UAE, and the local debut flights of the EH216-F for high-rise firefighting and the EH216-L for air logistics.

(Image credit: Ehang)

Chinese electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) developer Ehang (NASDAQ: EH) has conducted its first passenger demonstration flight in the United Arab Emirates as it showcases its low-altitude transportation solutions in more overseas markets.

Ehang announced last night that its EH216-S (UAM) unmanned aerial vehicle, for which it has received a production certificate in China, has completed its maiden demonstration flight with passengers in Abu Dhabi, the first of its kind in the UAE and the Middle East. East.

The EH216-S is powered by batteries in flight and has a maximum take-off weight of 650 kilograms, according to information previously announced by Ehang.

The UAM has a maximum flight speed of 130 kilometers per hour and a maximum endurance of 25 minutes.

Ehang has obtained the Type Certificate, Airworthiness Certificate and Production Certificate for the EH216-S in China, making it the first eVTOL maker to obtain all three licenses.

The company announced on February 2 that the official target price of the EH216-S in China is RMB 2.39 million yuan ($330,000).

The EH216-S is part of Ehang’s EH216 series of eVTOLs, which also includes the EH216-F for high-rise firefighting and the EH216-L for air logistics.

The EH216-F and EH216-L made their debut flights in the UAE, demonstrating a wide range of UAM use cases from pilotless eVTOL aircraft, Ehang said in a press release last night.

The EH216 series pilotless eVTOL aircraft performed several autonomous flights at the Emirates Falcons Aviation Club in Al Ali, Abu Dhabi with the approval of the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), the company said.

With a compact hull, high redundancy design and intelligent cluster management, the EH216 series is intended to be a transformative solution to urban transportation challenges such as emissions and congestion.

“After obtaining the approval for demo flights with passengers and conducting the debut flight, we will actively promote cooperation and communication between the GCAA and the Civil Aviation Administration of China to ensure the progress towards commercial flights of our unmanned aircraft in the UAE expedite,” Ehang founder, chairman and CEO Hu Huazhi said.

Ehang is actively participating in the design and construction of the eVTOL vertical take-off and landing airport with UAE partners and government agencies to prepare for the launch of commercial UAM routes, the report said.

The company joined the Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industries Cluster in the UAE and entered into a strategic partnership with Wings Logistics Hub in December 2023.

Last month, Ehang formed a strategic partnership with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office and MLG to drive the development of eVTOL in the UAE.

Ehang plans to establish a regional headquarters in Abu Dhabi to facilitate business activities with local partners, including manufacturing, flight operations, research and development, training and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities, the company said.

The UAE is another international market Ehang is exploring. In late March, the company announced that it had built a flight demonstration base in Japan and demonstrated the EH216-S’s potential in an aerial sightseeing scenario.

($1 = RMB 7.2171)

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