Written by ANDREA PIMPINI – MSc Student in International Integrated Resort Management and Research Assistant at the University of Macau

On October 25th, I attended the 30th Macao International Trade & Investment Fair, one of the most important platforms for suppliers to establish business connections in Macao and its surrounding regions. The event attracted numerous exhibitors from Hong Kong and Mainland China, particularly from Hengqin and Zhuhai, Macau’s closest neighbors.

The fair featured a wide variety of stands and product offerings, ranging from wine and coffee to robotics and food. My purpose in attending was primarily research and market data collection.

In this article, I will not attempt to cover every aspect of the international fair. Instead, I will focus on one company in particular: EHang (Guangzhou EHang Intelligent Technology Co. Ltd.), a pioneering enterprise based in Guangzhou, China.

Why this company? I remember when I was in middle school, around 2013, having a conversation with my professor during a class lesson. I mentioned that I had read in the news about companies researching the development of flying cars—machines designed more like helicopters or airplanes than traditional vehicles. My professor dismissed the idea, and the class laughed.

Yet even then, I was aware that both the United States and China were pushing the boundaries of this technology. The concept of a flying car was not science fiction to me; it was a vision of the future that could transform how people travel within and between cities.

That is why, when I encountered EHang at the fair, I felt a spark of excitement. The child in me—the one who once dreamed of flying cars—came alive. I couldn’t resist approaching their stand and asking about the possibility of experiencing their aircraft firsthand.

Of course the aircraft was turned off, disabled and only for display. The international fair was in a closed environment and Macau is not among the list of cities and countries that have approved the use of EHang’s vehicles.

An overview

EHang is not just another technology company; it is a pioneer in advanced air mobility (AAM). Headquartered in Guangzhou, the company has developed a portfolio of autonomous aerial vehicles (AAVs) and electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft designed for a wide range of applications: from aerial tourism and urban transport to logistics and even emergency firefighting.

Its flagship model, the EH216-S, is particularly groundbreaking. It is the world’s first pilotless passenger-grade eVTOL to receive a type certificate, production certificate, and standard airworthiness certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). This means the aircraft is not just a prototype or a futuristic concept—it is already approved for commercial operations, carrying passengers under official air operator certificates.

Complementing this, EHang has also developed the VT-35, a long-range model designed for intercity travel, expanding the possibilities of low-altitude mobility networks.

EHang’s journey began more than a decade ago, when it introduced the EHang 184 at the Consumer Electronics Show in 2016. Marketed as the world’s first passenger-grade autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV), it captured global attention and positioned the company as a pioneer in urban air mobility. Over the years, EHang has pursued ambitious projects, from early collaborations with Dubai’s Road & Transportation Agency on flying taxis, to partnerships in Europe with France’s city of Lyon and Austria’s aerospace group FACC. In 2019, the company reached another milestone by being listed on the NASDAQ under the symbol EH, further cementing its role as a global leader in advanced air mobility.

Since then, EHang has steadily expanded its portfolio of aircraft, each designed for specific use cases:

• Ghost – a compact quadcopter for aerial photography, controlled via smartphone.
• Hexacopter – an early six-rotor UAV prototype, built for short-range missions.
• EHang 184 – the company’s first passenger drone, capable of carrying one person.
• EHang 216 – a two-seater model with 16 propellers, tested extensively for urban air taxi services.
• EH216-S – the flagship, pilotless passenger-grade eVTOL, certified by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) for commercial operations.
• EH216-F – a firefighting variant, designed to tackle high-rise emergencies.
• VT-35 – a long-range model aimed at intercity travel and logistics.

EHang is not only working on models that can enhance inter-city mobility. From what I saw at the fair and on their website and reports, they are trying to create a multi-tiered ecosystem of autonomous aerial vehicles, serving everything from tourism and logistics to emergency response.

And so, standing at their booth in Macao, I found myself face-to-face with the very aircraft that embodies this vision—the EH216-S. Unlike the prototypes I once read about as a teenager, this was no longer a distant dream.

Experiencing the EH216-S

The EH216-S has a futuristic yet practical design. The aircraft looked compact but robust. Two passenger seats and one big screen in the middle (as you can see from the photos in the article). Unlike a traditional helicopter, there was no cockpit or pilot’s seat—just a sleek, enclosed cabin designed for two passengers. It felt like seating in an ultra-simplified pilot cabin, no levers or buttons, only a big screen that of course was turned off.

Boarding the EH216-S was surprisingly simple. The gull-wing doors were already opened, and the interior felt more like stepping into a modern electric car than an aircraft. The seats were comfortable, the cabin uncluttered, and the absence of traditional flight controls emphasized the autonomous nature of the vehicle.

What the EH216-S Means for the Future of Urban Mobility

Autonomous aerial vehicles like the EH216-S offer a potential solution: safe, eco-friendly, and efficient transport that bypasses ground-level traffic altogether.

The implications are significant:

• Urban Commuting: Instead of spending hours in traffic, passengers could travel across a city in minutes, using vertiports strategically placed near business districts, airports, or residential areas.
• Tourism and Sightseeing: Cities with iconic skylines or natural landmarks could offer aerial tours, creating new revenue streams and enhancing visitor experiences.
• Emergency Response: In situations where every second counts—such as medical emergencies or firefighting—the EH216-S and its variants could provide rapid, autonomous deployment.
• Sustainability: As a fully electric aircraft, the EH216-S contributes to reducing carbon emissions, aligning with global goals for greener, smarter cities.

EHang’s Position in the Global Market

China as a Launchpad: With strong government support and a massive domestic market, China provides the ideal environment for EHang to scale operations. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has already granted approvals for commercial flights, making the EH216-S the first of its kind to operate legally with passengers.

International Expansion: Through partnerships in Europe (Austria’s FACC, France’s Lyon), North America (test flights in Canada and the U.S.), and the Middle East (Dubai’s early flying taxi project), EHang is laying the groundwork for global adoption.

In this sense, EHang is positioning itself not just as a manufacturer of aircraft, but as a platform company—integrating autonomous technology, regulatory pathways, and operational infrastructure to redefine how people and goods move.

The EH216-S is more than a machine; it is a symbol of how close we are to a new era of mobility. What once seemed like science fiction is now a certified, operational reality.