No pilot. No steering wheel. You press a button, the gull-wing door closes automatically, and the skyline of Guangzhou becomes your highway. This isn't a concept video — it's already happening. The EH216-S by EHang is the world's first certified autonomous flying taxi.
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The Company Behind the Flying Taxi
EHang (Nasdaq: EH), headquartered in Guangzhou, China, is the world's leading Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) technology platform. Its mission: making safe, autonomous, and eco-friendly air mobility accessible to everyone.
Unlike competitors such as Joby Aviation or Lilium, which design eVTOLs with a pilot in the cockpit, EHang made a radically different choice: no pilot, anywhere. The aircraft is controlled entirely by a ground-based Command-and-Control Center via 4G/5G networks. The passenger doesn't need to do anything other than sit down.
EH216-S: Specs and Certifications
The EH216-S is a two-seat, pilotless electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Its core specifications:
Standing 1.93 m tall and 5.73 m wide, the design features coaxial dual rotors, gull-wing doors, F1-inspired ergonomic seats, sled-style landing gear for smooth touchdowns, and lightweight carbon fiber composite materials.
Certification required four separate approvals from China's aviation authority:
- Type Certificate: Issued by CAAC (Civil Aviation Administration of China) — the world's first for a pilotless eVTOL
- Production Certificate: EHang manufactures at its own facility — the first in the world dedicated exclusively to autonomous eVTOL production
- Standard Airworthiness Certificate: Each individual aircraft is certified as airworthy
- Air Operator Certificate: The first-ever license for commercial human-carrying eVTOL services
Safety Without a Pilot
Without a pilot, the EH216-S relies on five backup systems:
Hardware redundancy: Every critical system (flight control, power) has multiple backups. If one fails, another takes over seamlessly. System redundancy: Multiple flight control systems use voting mechanisms to ensure accuracy even in complex scenarios. Fail-Safe: A built-in system monitors every airborne device in real time and decides whether to continue flying or execute a safe emergency landing. Encrypted Communications: Each aircraft uses encrypted communications with independent keys to resist intrusion. Command Center Override: In emergencies, the ground-based Command-and-Control Center intervenes, selects the optimal emergency route, and lands the aircraft.
EHang reports over 80,000 safe flights across 21 countries (as of December 2025). Each aircraft undergoes hundreds of tests: static, load, durability, reliability, environmental, anti-interference — including extreme temperatures, humidity, salt spray, and typhoon conditions. The company holds AS9100D certification (aerospace quality management standard).
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Commercial Operations and Expansion
The first commercial flights launched in Guangzhou, primarily for tourism sightseeing. Passengers pay, board, and take off over the urban skyline or on flights above rivers and islands. In January 2025, EHang appeared at China's Spring Festival Gala, performing a joint aerial spectacle with 16 EH216-S aircraft and 22,580 GD4.0 drones, setting a Guinness World Record.
The company's ambitions extend well beyond flying taxis:
- EH216-L: A logistics variant for autonomous aerial cargo delivery
- EH216-F: A firefighting variant — the first model has already rolled off the assembly line in Beijing for low-altitude building emergencies
- VT-35: A long-range model (~160 km range) for intercity travel. It completed its first public flight in Hefei and its first cross-province flight over the Qiongzhou Strait
EHang is expanding into Thailand (Bloomberg reported commercial flights “in months” in October 2025), while operations in cities like Hefei, Shenzhen, and others are growing steadily.
China vs the West: Who Wins the Skies
The Chinese government actively supports the so-called “low-altitude economy.” According to the Financial Times (September 2025), China is well ahead of the West in this field — while the FAA in the US is still weighing pilot programs, the CAAC has already issued full certifications.
Meanwhile, Western rivals struggle:
Joby Aviation (USA) — FAA certification in progress, targeting commercial flights in 2025-2026 in Dubai and Los Angeles. Five seats, 241 km/h, 161 km range, but with a pilot.
Lilium (Germany) — filed for bankruptcy in October 2024, was acquired, future uncertain.
Volocopter (Germany) — filed for insolvency in March 2025.
EHang carries paying passengers daily. Its Western competitors are still seeking funding or permits.
Challenges and Next Steps
The 30 km range and 130 km/h speed make the EH216-S ideal for short urban routes and tourism, but not for long daily commutes. That's where the VT-35 comes in with its 160 km range.
Key obstacles remain:
- Regulatory framework outside China: Western aviation authorities (FAA, EASA) don't automatically recognize Chinese certifications
- Public acceptance: The idea of “aircraft without a pilot” faces resistance in countries with strong aviation safety traditions
- Infrastructure: Vertiports, charging stations, and low-altitude air corridors need to be built
- Battery endurance: Two-hour charging for 30 km of flight — improvements in energy density will be critical
The Chinese government continues pushing hard: new route approvals, infrastructure development, and strategic partnerships (EHang signed an MoU with RACE for AAM and motorsport innovation). Al Jazeera, Bloomberg, AP, the Financial Times, Fox Business, and the Daily Mail have all covered the flights extensively.
No pilot. No steering wheel. Just a button and the sky. Tomorrow's commute might not look like a car — but like a drone.