EHang has delivered the first batch of 10 units of its EH216-S pilotless eVTOL aircraft to Taiyuan Xishan Ecological Tourism Investment Construction (Xishan Tourism), and completed debut passenger-carrying flights in Taiyuan, Shanxi on 28 July.

Tao Wei, member of the standing committee of Shanxi Provincial Committee and secretary of Taiyuan Municipal Committee, along with other government officials, experts, scholars and enterprise representatives, attended the inaugural flight ceremony, which took place at the Paddy Field Park in Taiyuan.

Two EH216-S aircraft took off simultaneously with four passengers on board for an aerial view of the vast paddy fields. The flights showcased the potential of pilotless eVTOLs in providing aerial sightseeing services in Taiyuan and demonstrated the advantages of the EH216-S in autonomous flying, cluster management, and safe and stable operations, earning both acknowledgement and praise from the guests and passengers.

During the event, EHang also showcased its VT-30 long-range pilotless passenger-carrying eVTOL, the firefighting EH216-F and the EH216-L for logistics.

Shanxi is a national demonstration province for the development of general aviation industry, and the Shanxi Provincial Government issued the Measures to Accelerate the Development of the Low-Altitude Economy and the Construction of General Aviation Demonstration Province in May 2024. These measures facilitate regular low-altitude flights, subsidise short-range logistics and low-altitude tourism, and accelerate the development of general aviation infrastructure and operational service capabilities.

Jicheng Yang, member of the standing committee of Taiyuan Municipal Committee and executive vice mayor, states: “As a national strategic emerging industry, the low-altitude economy is not only a typical representative of a new productive force but also an important direction for cultivating new growth drivers, with vast development prospects. Its application scenarios have gradually extended from passenger transportation, aerial sightseeing and emergency rescue to various sectors of the society. The new low-altitude application scenarios are continuously expanding, and a new landscape of the low-altitude industry chain is further taking shape. Taiyuan is a national civil unmanned aerial vehicle test zone, with the foundation and advantages to develop the aviation industry, and will actively seize the lead in the emerging low-altitude economy industry. Taiyuan will enhance policy support, essential guarantees and innovation capabilities, and promote the deep integration of technological innovation and the low-altitude economy. We will continue to enrich general aviation application scenarios and, with a more open and inclusive attitude, to achieve mutual benefits and win-win results through deep cooperation and strive to write a new chapter in the construction of commercial air routes.”

In May this year, Xishan Tourism and EHang signed a purchase order for 50 units of EH216-S, with a plan to acquire an additional 450 units over the next two years. This first batch of delivered aircraft will be deployed for local low-altitude sightseeing and tourism services. Xishan Tourism is currently advancing the regular operation of EH216-S flights and plans to launch eVTOL low-altitude sightseeing routes at Yuquan Mountain, Paddy Field Park and Juewei Mountain, to establish a series of trend-setting ‘low-altitude tourism’ demonstration projects and contribute to the development of Shanxi Province's low-altitude economy demonstration zone.

Yaozong Chang, chairman of Xishan Tourism, says: “Xishan Tourism plans to collaborate with EHang and other partners on low-altitude scenarios of air mobility, tourism and public services to establish multiple flight camps or landing pads, alongside various low-altitude sightseeing routes for pilotless eVTOL within Taiyuan and nearby scenic areas. We aim to build an urban low-altitude tourism mobility network and a new urban air traffic management system, and to establish a low-altitude economy industrial park. We're poised to explore and demonstrate the development of low-altitude economy in Shanxi Province.”

EHang COO Zhao Wang adds: “The Civil Aviation Administration of China has officially accepted our application for the EH216-S AOC, which is a major breakthrough for the global eVTOL industry. At present, we have gradually delivered EH216-S by batches to Taiyuan, Hefei, Wuxi, Wencheng, Zhuhai and other places, and are actively assisting our local partners who are creating application scenarios to obtain AOCs. As we delivered EH216-S and completed debut passenger-carrying flights in Taiyuan, we will work together with Xishan Tourism in establishing a benchmark for low-altitude economy in the region, gradually rolling out this innovative technology across north China and bringing a new aerial flight experience to more people, and making UAM accessible to the public.”