Driverless Flying Taxi Drones Coming Soon to China

China has officially approved autonomous flying taxi drones for commercial use, granting two companies clearance to launch their travel services.

The push for a commercial flying taxi industry in China has been years in the making, with the government identifying the low-altitude economy—including drones, blimps and flying cars—as a key driver of economic growth, the South China Morning Post reported.

Companies like EHang Holdings and Hefei Hey Airlines have been working toward regulatory approval, obtaining type certification, production certification and airworthiness certification.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China granted both firms air operator certificates, the final hurdle before commercial operations could begin. With these approvals, EHang and Hefei Hey Airlines can now begin operating passenger drone services, primarily targeting urban sightseeing tours.

EHang's flagship model, the EH216-S, is a fully electric, pilotless two-seater capable of cruising at 100 km/h and reaching altitudes of up to 10,000 feet. Analysts predict that tourism will be the first major use case for flying taxis, accelerating growth in the industry.

The launch of commercial flying taxis in China is expected to spark intense competition among domestic players like Feihang Aviation, Xpeng and Geely, as well as global aviation giants such as Boeing and Airbus.

The low-altitude economy is projected to be worth 1.5 trillion yuan, or about $207 billion, by 2025 and could grow to 2.5 trillion yuan, or about $344 billion, by 2035.