Shanghai AutoFlight, a leading Chinese eVTOL aircraft developer, has broken ground on its new assembly facility in Wuhan’s Hanyang District, establishing its first manufacturing presence in central China.

AutoFlight and the Hanyang District have agreed a cooperative framework to develop a model demonstration zone for China’s low-altitude economy. The facility will serve as both an assembly base and exhibition centre, handling final assembly, ground and flight testing, sales and service, delivery and product showcases.

AutoFlight will actively participate in developing Wuhan's low-altitude operations and future passenger services in the city. The partnership is intended to accelerate production scale-up and commercial deployment of the company’s large eVTOL aircraft. Demonstration projects will include applications in aerial firefighting, emergency response operations and air logistics.

At the groundbreaking ceremony, Wang Xunan, president of the China United Nations Procurement Promotion Association, announced that Hanyang Investment Development Group has been officially designated as the first registered supplier of eVTOL aircraft for United Nations procurement.

The Group will also support AutoFlight’s international expansion efforts through the 'Belt and Road' cross-border supply chain, facilitating distribution of the company’s aircraft to Central Asian markets and other regions, while establishing cross-border operational partnerships between China and Europe.

AutoFlight’s CarryAll is currently the only eVTOL aircraft with a maximum take-off weight of more than one tonne to have secured both a type certificate (TC) and production certificate (PC) globally. The airworthiness certification for its five-seat passenger version, Prosperity, is expected to be completed in 2026.