EHang has launched an AAM sandbox initiative in Thailand, in collaboration with the CAA of Thailand and local partners. The initiative aims to fast-track the future commercial operations of EHang’s EH216-S pilotless eVTOL aircraft in the country, with the goal of establishing the world’s first commercial eVTOL operations using an innovative regulatory sandbox approach. Continuous trial operations with the EH216-S have successfully commenced at the first sandbox area in Bangkok, with plans to expand to more sandbox areas across Thailand.

During the launch event, the EH216-S completed a series of A-to-B autonomous flights with consistent stability, demonstrating its integrated flight control systems and operational reliability. The event gathered senior officials from the CAAT and the Ministry of Transport (MOT) of Thailand, along with key industry partners including Aerial Sea Ventures, Energy Absolute, Amita Technology, G Capital, China Harbour Engineering Company, Bangkok Airways, VietJet and Tahira Group from Malaysia, all of whom witnessed firsthand the EH216-S’s proven readiness for commercial deployment.

CFO Conor Yang comments: “This demonstration showcased not only routine flight capabilities but also the core safety principles integral to our certified EH216-S aircraft. The AAM sandbox initiative in Thailand serves as a pivotal model for the region. Our goal is to leverage the operational and regulatory framework established here as a blueprint for expansion into other Southeast Asian markets, bringing safe, sustainable AAM to the wider region globally.”

Luong Pham of Aerial Sea Ventures adds: “This marks an historic day as we launch the future of transportation here in Thailand. With the EH216-S, we are entering an era where travel is measured in minutes, not hours, connecting waterways, islands and remote areas with unprecedented efficiency. With the strong support of the CAAT and MOT, we are now months, not years, away from commercialisation in Thailand. We look forward to positioning Thailand as the regional hub for AAM across Southeast Asia.”

The OEM also held a technical meeting with CAAT officials, presenting the EH216-S’s comprehensive safety architecture, unmanned aircraft system traffic management (UTM) integration, risk assessment framework and flight-testing methodology. This multi-party collaboration with the initiative represents a significant step toward gaining local regulatory approval for future commercial operations in sandbox areas across Thailand.

Under the initiative, EHang’s local partners will provide essential operational support, ranging from infrastructure to operational teams. They plan to expand the sandbox areas to Pattaya, Koh Larn, Phuket, Koh Samui and many other locations in Thailand for more sightseeing flight routes and transportation services.

Thailand, Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy, represents a strategically vital AAM market. This is driven by its strong service sector, thriving tourism industry and proactive government policies promoting smart transportation and sustainable technology. The country’s densely populated urban areas and persistent traffic congestion make it an ideal environment for deploying AAM solutions. Major cities such as Bangkok are particularly well-suited for air taxi services, offering significant market potential. This potential was clearly demonstrated last November when the EH216-S successfully conducted three days of human-carrying flights in central Bangkok, showcasing its practical capabilities in real-world AAM applications.

“We are highly impressed with the cutting-edge technology and demonstrated safety of EHang’s EH216-S during these flights,” says Air Chief Marshal Manat Chavanaprayoon, director general of the CAAT. “At the CAAT, we are guiding Thailand’s transition into a new era of AAM, where safety and public trust remain our highest priorities. Through our ‘prove it safe, then scale' approach, we have explored a clear path toward commercial operations, with the target of launching the world’s first commercial eVTOL operation services within the next three months leveraging the initiative. The future of AAM in Thailand will be safe by design, ambitious in vision, and realised through tangible action.”