The EH216-S from UAM company EHang Holdings Limited has conducted its first demonstration flight in the heart of Shanghai.
The inaugural event highlighted the potential of UAM technology, showcasing its practicality, safety, and environmental benefits within a bustling metropolitan setting. During the event, EHang officially initiated the trial operations of eVTOL sightseeing routes along the Huangpu River, originating from Longhua Airport, paving the way for future commercial services in the city. This initiative is a critical step in achieving advanced air mobility solutions in large urban centers like Shanghai.
Longhua Airport, uniquely positioned as Shanghai’s only downtown airfield with apron airspace, serves as the hub for the East China General Aviation Service Center under the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). This strategic location supports various low-altitude activities, including aerial transport, tourism, logistics, and emergency response, fostering the development of Shanghai’s low-altitude economic ecosystem. The recent flight not only demonstrated the EH216-S’s readiness for urban sightseeing and travel but also reinforced its potential for full-scale commercial adoption of air taxi services across the Yangtze River Delta region.
The EH216-S featured in the demo flight is one of several advanced aircraft delivered by EHang to Shanghai Hynfar Aviation Co., Ltd., a pioneer in eVTOL operations and a strategic partner of Longhua Airport. Moving forward, EHang, Hynfar Aviation, and New Margin Eastwood Fund aim to expand the low-altitude economy with operations focused on passenger air transport, tourism, and urban sightseeing. Using Longhua Airport as their base, they plan to serve Shanghai and other cities within the Yangtze River Delta G60 Science and Innovation Corridor, spanning nine cities across Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui provinces. Their shared vision is to encourage widespread adoption of air taxi services, transforming urban mobility across the region.
Zhao Wang, EHang’s Chief Operating Officer, stated, “As the world’s first pilotless passenger-carrying eVTOL that has obtained the Type Certificate, Production Certificate, and Standard Airworthiness Certificate from the CAAC, EH216-S’s successful debut flight in Shanghai has a great demonstration importance, signifying that large central cities in China are on the verge of entering the era of urban air taxi flight scenarios. With metropolises gradually advancing the development and operations of the low-altitude economy, EHang’s pilotless passenger-carrying eVTOLs are poised to become a key driver in UAM transformation.
“Looking ahead, we will fully leverage our first-mover advantage as the world’s first certified eVTOL company and join hands with Hynfar Aviation, which has been deeply rooted in the civil aviation field for many years, and combine the all-encompassing layout and rich cultural and tourism resources of the New Margin Eastwood Fund in the low-altitude economic sector, to actively promote market-oriented, EH216-S commercial operations in Shanghai and the Yangtze River Delta region. Together, we will explore the diversified application scenarios within the low-altitude economy and jointly build a smarter and more efficient UAM ecosystem, making air taxi rides a part of consumers’ daily travel routines.”
