“China has granted the world’s first commercial licences for autonomous flying taxis, marking a significant milestone in the global push for urban air mobility…

The announcement signals the start of what China has called ‘a new era in low-altitude economy’ with ambitions to lead in a sector still in experimental stages elsewhere. Chinese planners are preparing the groundwork for a business that could generate up to CNY2 trillion ($280bn) in annual output as soon as 2030, Urban Land reports.

Guangzhou-based EHang received a type certificate for its EH216-S model in October 2023, and was awarded its production certificate in April 2024. On December 28, the CAAC granted the company an operational permit, allowing it to provide passenger-carrying flights in designated airspaces…

Autoflight, headquartered in Shanghai, also confirmed it had received approval for its V400 Albatross cargo drone, with plans to expand to passenger services under its subsidiary Autoflight X.

China’s regulators have moved more swiftly than their counterparts in the US and Europe, where companies such as Joby Aviation, Lilium and Volocopter are still undergoing flight testing and certification. The US Federal Aviation Administration has indicated that commercial operations for passenger-carrying eVTOLs are unlikely before 2028.”

From bne IntelliNews.