EHang launches long-range air taxi

Chinese aircraft-maker EHang Holdings Ltd. is taking a major step toward expanding its commercial reach by entering the intercity transport segment with a new long-range flying taxi, reports Caixin. The company on Monday unveiled the VT-35, a two-seat, autonomous electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft equipped with fixed wings and a range exceeding 200 kilometers (124 miles). The launch signals a strategic pivot for the Nasdaq-listed firm, which had previously focused on short-range aircraft.

EHang’s new model has a guide price of RMB 6.5 million ($911,000), representing a sharp upgrade from its flagship EH216-S—a multirotor eVTOL designed for short-haul, low-altitude flights, mainly used for sightseeing. The EH216-S, the first eVTOL in China to receive an airworthiness certificate, has already sold hundreds of units, but its 30-kilometer range limits broader commercial applications.

With the VT-35, EHang is targeting China’s growing “low-altitude economy,” betting that long-range eVTOLs will unlock more lucrative opportunities in intercity transport. The move brings EHang into more direct competition with a host of domestic startups focused on similar ambitions, including AutoFlight, Aerofugia and TCab Tech.