Ehang delivered 26 units of EH216-S in the first quarter, bringing the eVTOL's total deliveries to 263.
(Ehang delivered a new batch of 27 EH216-S eVTOLs in China. Image credit: Ehang)
Chinese electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) developer Ehang has delivered a new batch of EH216-S passenger-carrying pilotless aircraft, as it seizes the opportunity presented by the increased emphasis on low-altitude economy across China.
Ehang announced yesterday that it has received full payment for the first batch of 30 EH216-S eVTOLs ordered by Wencheng County Transportation Development Group Co Ltd (Wencheng Development) in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, eastern China, and has already delivered 27 of them.
Ehang delivered 26 EH216-S eVTOLs in the first quarter, bringing total deliveries to 263, CnEVPost learned.
On June 22, the EH216-S pilotless eVTOL completed its maiden manned flight in Wencheng, marking the official launch of the cultural tourism initiative of "Low-Altitude Tourism in Wencheng", according to the company.
A local scenic spot has already built a dedicated takeoff and landing site and supporting amenities for the Ehang 216-S, and other areas in Wencheng will gradually build operation center and supporting infrastructure to prepare for the launch of the Ehang 216-S aerial sightseeing services, the company said.
Ehang announced on June 21 that Wencheng Development ordered the first batch of 30 EH216-S eVTOLs and paid 50 percent of the total purchase price as an advance payment, with the remaining amount to be paid before delivery.
In addition, Wencheng Development plans to purchase an additional 270 EH216-S by the end of 2026 and has paid a non-refundable deposit, Ehang said at the time.
The purchase is part of Wencheng County's efforts to develop a low-altitude economy, with the county aiming to build more than 10 typical scenarios for low-altitude flights and realize a market size of more than RMB 1 billion ($138 million), according to Ehang's press release.
China has significantly loosened its control over low-altitude airspace over the past few years in hopes of pushing the development of a so-called low-altitude economy, opening up new opportunities for eVTOL makers.
On May 31, Ehang announced that it had received an order for 50 EH216-S eVTOLs from a local cultural tourism company in Taiyuan, Shanxi, in northwest China, with a payment of RMB 113 million.
The cultural and tourism company has also signed an intent-to-purchase agreement with Ehang for an additional 450 EH216-S eVTOLs over the next 2 years, which will be used in future scenarios such as tourism and manned transportation.
Ehang, one of the earliest eVTOL makers in China, announced on February 2 that the official guide price of the EH216-S in China is RMB 2.39 million ($330,000).
The EH216-S is powered by batteries to provide the energy needed to fly and has a maximum takeoff weight of 620 kilograms, according to information previously announced by Ehang.
The eVTOL has a maximum flight speed of 130 kilometers per hour and a maximum range of 25 minutes.
On April 7, Ehang announced that it received a Production Certificate for the EH216-S from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).
Previously, the EH216-S has obtained Type Certificate and Standard Airworthiness Certificate in China.
($1 = RMB 7.2664)
eVTOL maker EHang prices its EH216-S unmanned aerial vehicle at about $333,000 in China
