HAIKOU /China/, April 15. /TASS Correspondent Andrei Popov/. Chinese UAV developer EHang will soon officially start commercial passenger transportation with the EH216-S unmanned aerotaxi, the company's Chief Operating Officer Wang Zhao told TASS at the 5th China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, Hainan Province.
"On March 28, we received the operating certificate issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of the People's Republic of China, which means that the EH216-S will soon be officially put into commercial operation," Wang Zhao said. "We started sales last year, but the development of the whole industry still requires improved laws and regulations, some changes in airspace management, especially when manned and unmanned aircraft fly in the same area," he said. "Safety issues still need to be addressed."
Wang Zhao added that the company has sold 216 vehicles since 2024. "Government and corporate customers are working with us to create application scenarios," he noted. According to the official, "flight conditions are getting better and better" thanks to some legislative changes this year. The company has already conducted test flights in 20 countries around the world. "Overseas flights also need to comply with the laws of those countries, we are actively coordinating and organizing the promotion of this work," Wang Zhao added.
EHang introduced three UAV models at the Haikou exhibition: the EH216-F (a firefighting UAV), the EH216-L (for small cargo transport), and the EH216-S (for passenger transport). The EH216-F can carry up to 100 liters of extinguishing solution, while the EH216-L can carry up to 250 kg of cargo.
The passenger EH216-S attracted the most attention from Expo visitors. Its payload capacity is 650 kg. The length and height of the fuselage are 6.05 meters and 5.73 meters respectively, and the height is 1.93 meters. The flying cabin can cover a distance of 30 km at a time, the maximum flight time without additional charging is 25 minutes. The operating altitude is up to 120 meters. The cruising speed is 90 km/h. The aerotaxi is equipped with 16 propellers, the drone will continue to fly normally even if 5 propellers fail, according to Wang Zhao.
About the expo
The 5th China International Consumer Products Expo will be held from April 13 to 18 at the Hainan International Expo Center. More than 4,100 brands from 71 countries and regions around the world are exhibiting their products.
Hainan Expo is an important platform that reflects global trade trends. This consumer goods expo is the largest in the Asia-Pacific region.
According to the Chinese government's plans, the expo will contribute to the construction of Hainan Free Trade Port and the establishment of an international tourist consumption center on the island. The country's authorities view the expo as an important platform for foreign companies to enter the Chinese market and for PRC companies to enter the international market.