Chinese electric air mobility company EHang has concluded the first demo flight for its pilotless eVTOL aircraft series EH216 in Abu Dhabi, according to a statement. EHang’s demonstration flight of the EH216-S — a one passenger aircraft — marked the first passenger-carrying demo flight in the UAE and Middle East. The EH216 series also includes two non-passenger aircrafts — the EH216-F for high-rise firefighting and the EH216-L for aerial logistics and cargo-carrying.

What we know: The pilotless eVTOLs feature compact size, advanced backup systems, and smart air traffic management for safety, efficiency, and scalable operations. The 216 series has a cruise speed of 100 km per hour, a maximum speed of 130 km per hour, and a maximum altitude of 3k meters. The vehicle can also achieve a range of 35 km and has a flight time of 21 minutes.

A step towards larger scale launch: The Civil Aviation Administration of China issued a production certificate to EHang for its EH216-S last month, clearing the way for the company to start large-scale series manufacturing, according to a statement which noted that Ehang became the first in the world to achieve this. The company intends to sell its EH216-S to be used as an air taxi service for city public transportation systems, as well as sightseeing flights for tourists. The price tag of the aircraft in China currently stands at USD 334k.

This has been in the works: EHang partnered with Wings Logistics Hub — the eVTOL-focused subsidiary of UAE investor Ethmar International Holding — moving into Abu Dhabi’s Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industries (SAVI) Cluster to roll out its autonomous eVTOL aircraft in the UAE last December. Wing Logistics planned to purchase up to 100 EH216 units from Ehang with variants for aerial logistics, transport, and firefighting with deliveries set for 1Q 2024.

Ehang is expanding in UAE: The company partnered with ADIO and Multi Level Group to develop eVTOLs in the UAE. EHang will establish its regional headquarters in Abu Dhabi, focusing on manufacturing, flight operations, R&D, training, and Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facilities, which ADIO will support by providing data, information, and connections to the Abu Dhabi ecosystem and international trade paths.

UAE is going big on eVTOLs: The General Civil Aviation Authority granted operational approval to ADIO and Abu Dhabi Mobility to launch the country’s inaugural vertiport — a micro-scale airport designed for eVTOL aircrafts — last month.

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