China on track to test world’s first flying taxi service

The EH216-S, priced at 2.16 million yuan (US$300,000/RM1.42mil), has eight arms jutting out from its centre equipped with 16 propellers, each with its own electric motor. — Twitter/@Ehang

China gave EHang Holdings Ltd the go-ahead to begin trial air-taxi operations this year, a step toward the company’s goal of launching the world’s first commercial service using the futuristic battery powered craft.

US-traded EHang soared the most intraday this year on Friday (Oct 13) after the company said its autonomous, two-passenger EH216-S secured China’s first type certificate signifying airworthiness from regulators. That will allow the Guangzhou, Guangdong-based company to work with local partners and conduct aerial tours of scenic locations such as Tianchi Lake in Xinjiang province and OH Bay in Shenzhen, it said.