(Yicai) March 31 -- A joint venture under EHang Holdings, a Chinese manufacturer of electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, has obtained the world’s first commercial operation certificate for unmanned aerial vehicles, marking a major leap forward for the commercial launch of self-flying aircraft travel in China.

Hefei Heyi Aviation, which is a joint venture between Nasdaq-listed EHang and a Hefei state-owned company, received the world’s first operation certificate for civil unmanned aircraft systems from the Civil Aviation Administration of China on March 28, according to an announcement released by EHang yesterday.

The license allows Heyi Aviation, which specializes in urban air mobility services and has safely completed over 60,000 flights, to offer paid services such as low-altitude sightseeing tours and urban air commuting using EHang’s self-developed passenger drone, the EH216-S.

The EH216-S is the world’s first unmanned aerial vehicle to receive airworthiness, type and production certificates. It can carry two passengers with a top speed of 130 kilometers per hour and a range of 35 kilometers.

Deliveries of the passenger drone more than quadrupled last year from the year before, surging 315.4 percent to 216 units, according to EHang’s 2024 financial report which was released earlier this month.

Over the next two years, EHang plans to first deploy in major tourist areas, Chief Operating Officer Wang Zhao said at the earnings call. Once enough data has been gathered, the Guangzhou-based company will expand into air taxi services.

Other operators of EHang’s eVTOLs are preparing their operation certificate applications, according to the financial report. The company expects to soon be able to offer services in cities such as Shenzhen, Shanghai, Taiyuan, Wenzhou and Weihai. And more hubs will be added as time goes on.

EHang's partner in Shanghai plans to set up between 20 and 30 operation points across the Yangtze River Delta region with a focus on Shanghai, said Chen Zhaowei, an investor in EHang’s partner Shanghai Gaoeryuan General Aviation, during the EH216-S’s inaugural flight in downtown Shanghai in January.

Editor: Kim Taylor