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EHang EH216-S: the first certified passenger eVTOL

The EH216-S is a pilotless eVTOL that carries passengers. It is built by EHang in Guangzhou, China. In 2023 it became the first eVTOL of its kind to earn a type certificate. Here is what that covers, and what it doesn’t yet. We checked EHang’s filings on October 16, 2026.

Four certificates, in order

  • Type certificate, October 13, 2023. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) approved the design. EHang calls it the world’s first type certificate for an unmanned eVTOL (EHang).
  • Standard airworthiness certificate. Issued for individual aircraft before the production certificate (EHang).
  • Production certificate, announced April 7, 2024. Approval to build the aircraft in series (EHang).
  • Air operator certificates, March 28, 2025. Granted to two operators: EHang General Aviation and Hefei HeYi Aviation (EHang).

How long it took

The CAAC accepted the application in January 2021 and published special conditions for the aircraft in February 2022. EHang reports more than 40,000 test flights along the way (EHang).

Where it flies

The first operator certificates cover flights that take off and land at the same site, for sightseeing and flight experiences (EHang). Trial operations at the two sites, in Guangzhou and Hefei, have run for 17 months. A first point-to-point test route is in internal trials in Guangzhou (Q2 2026 results).

EHang says a major accident involving a piloted light-sport aircraft in China in late June 2026 slowed approvals for paid passenger flights in some regions (Q2 2026 results).

Who buys it

EHang sells aircraft to operators. In the second quarter of 2026 it delivered 36 eVTOLs, 35 of them from the EH216 series (Q2 2026 results). It aims for a commercial operating certificate in Thailand in 2026.

How it compares with U.S. air taxis

Joby and Archer build piloted aircraft and are still working through FAA type certification. The EH216-S has no pilot on board and is certified only in China.

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