Chinese air mobility company EHang has launched the VT35, its latest long-range pilotless electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) passenger aircraft.

Building on the earlier VT30 prototype, the VT35 is an upgraded lift-and-cruise model for medium- to long-range applications including intercity, cross-sea and cross-mountain transportation. With its autonomous flight capability, point-to-point efficiency and eco-friendly electric propulsion, it could play a pivotal role in advancing the low-altitude aerial mobility ecosystem from urban to intercity corridors.

The price of the VT35 standard version in China has been set at RMB6.5m. Following the preliminary design validation and R&D debugging, it has completed its transition flight test.

The aircraft has a tandem-wing layout with a two-seat configuration. It employs eight distributed lift propellers for vertical take-off and landing, transitioning to a pusher propeller and fixed wings for efficient cruise flight. With a fully loaded design range of approximately 200km, it delivers long-range capability and versatility.

Compared with its VT30 predecessor, the VT35 maintains aerodynamic efficiency and flight stability while achieving a more compact footprint – measuring approximately 8m in length and wingspan, and 3m in height, with a maximum takeoff weight of 950kg. This design is said to reduce ground operational risks and enhance cost-effectiveness.

It is compatible with existing EH216-S vertiports and can use a wide range of urban takeoff and landing sites, including parks, rooftops and parking lot. This interoperability enhances infrastructure use and supports seamless intercity air mobility directly between city centres.

The aircraft can operate automatically and enable coordinated fleet operations based on pre-set flight routes. It is also equipped with obstacle detection and avoidance, ensuring operational safety. It is engineered to transform intercity aerial travel into a safe, routine and efficient transportation experience.

In March 2025, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) accepted EHang’s type certificate application for the VT35. The model is undergoing airworthiness certification, with internal testing and experimental flights progressing steadily. Drawing on the certification experience of the EH216-S, EHang is applying its technical and regulatory insights to streamline VT35’s review and approval process.

The VT35 is designed to provide a safer, more efficient, eco-friendly and cost-effective option for intra-city and intercity transportation. It is envisioned to create one-hour air mobility living circles across major metropolitan clusters such as the Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta and Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, as well as within bay areas and archipelagos.

The operational experience accumulated by EH216-S operators – particularly in obtaining air operator certificates and executing trial commercial operations – provides a foundation for accelerating VT35’s commercialisation and operational model. Together, the VT35 and EH216-S are expected to work synergistically to build an integrated low-altitude transportation network that supports diverse applications, bringing pilotless eVTOLs into everyday life.

EHang plans to leverage the VT35 platform for continued innovation, such as developing a tilt-rotor model to expand into more diverse applications.

EHang has also signed cooperation agreements with Zhejiang Zhiyi UAV Technology of Wencheng County, and Hainan Fuma General Aviation. The parties will collaborate closely on VT35’s purchase, promotion and operations to advance jointly the development of the low-altitude economy. Currently, a platform company of the Hefei municipal government has already placed purchase orders for the VT35 long-range pilotless eVTOL aircraft.

In August 2025, EHang and the Hefei municipal government signed an investment agreement to establish the VT35 series product hub in Hefei, jointly promoting the development of the low-altitude economy ecosystem. In September, Hefei released a white paper outlining the goals, scenarios and pathways for low-altitude economic development, and providing solid policy and infrastructure to support for R&D, testing and application of aircraft such as the VT35.

“VT35’s launch marks the evolution of EHang’s long-range product line and a major milestone towards our advanced air mobility vision,” said Wang Zhao, chief operating officer of EHang.: “Together with our partners, we will accelerate the commercialisation of pilotless eVTOL aircrafts across diverse application scenarios, fostering a new, integrated urban-intercity low-altitude transportation ecosystem.”

Huazhi Hu, CEO of EHang (www.ehang.com), added: “Since our founding, EHang has been dedicated to driving disruptive innovation in the urban air mobility industry. From R&D to design, we uphold the highest safety standards and lead the industry’s sustainable development. VT35, together with the urban-focused EH216-S, will form a comprehensive intelligent air mobility network connecting short- to mid-long-range scenarios. Leveraging the EH216-S certification experience, we will expedite VT35’s airworthiness and commercialisation processes. As a pioneer in pilotless eVTOL technology, EHang is continuously optimising aircraft performance and expanding applications to offer the public safer, smarter and more accessible low-altitude transportation for a greener, shared future in global civil aviation.”

To watch the introductory video for EHang’s VT35 eVTOL aircraft, visit youtu.be/4pQXqSrevns.