EHang’s EH216-S eVTOL Operators Obtain Air Operator Certificates

Rhea-AI Summary

EHang (Nasdaq: EH) has achieved a significant milestone as its subsidiary Guangdong EHang General Aviation and joint venture HeYi Aviation received the first batch of Air Operator Certificates (OC) from the Civil Aviation Administration of China for civil human-carrying pilotless aerial vehicles.

This certification enables the launch of commercial human-carrying flight services in China's low-altitude economy, allowing consumers to purchase flight tickets for tourism, urban sightseeing, and other commercial services in Guangzhou and Hefei. Future expansion plans include urban commuting services based on operational conditions.

EHang becomes the world's first eVTOL company to obtain a complete suite of regulatory certifications, including the type certificate (TC), standard airworthiness certificate (AC), production certificate (PC), and now the OC. The company plans to expand operation sites across China, establishing low-altitude transportation centers and supporting local operators in obtaining OCs.

Positive

• First eVTOL company worldwide to obtain all four key regulatory certifications (TC, AC, PC, OC)
• Authorization to begin commercial operations and ticket sales in multiple Chinese cities
• Clear path to revenue generation through various aerial services
• Strategic presence established across multiple Chinese cities with operation centers

Negative

• Initial operations to tourism and sightseeing, with urban commuting services pending future approval
• Geographic operations currently restricted to specific Chinese cities

Insights

Aviation Industry Analyst

EHang's receipt of Air Operator Certificates (OCs) for its EH216-S represents a watershed moment in the eVTOL industry. The company has achieved what no competitor has yet accomplished: a complete regulatory certification portfolio (TC, AC, PC, and now OC) enabling full commercial passenger operations. This removes the final regulatory barrier that has kept the entire sector in pre-revenue development phases.

What distinguishes these certificates is their authorization for pilotless operations with paying civilians onboard - the first such approval globally. This immediately unlocks revenue generation through tourism and sightseeing flights in Guangzhou and Hefei, with planned expansion to additional Chinese cities.

The strategic pathway is evident: begin with lower-complexity tourism operations to build safety data and public confidence before expanding to more complex urban transportation routes. The nine operational sites mentioned demonstrate significant infrastructure preparation ahead of this approval.

EHang's vertical integration model - controlling both manufacturing and operations - differs from competitors who typically separate these functions. This approach may accelerate deployment but requires balancing capital between vehicle production and operational infrastructure.

For the broader industry, this establishes a pivotal regulatory precedent, potentially influencing certification processes in other jurisdictions. While international regulators operate independently, EHang's real-world operational data will provide valuable safety benchmarks that could streamline other approval processes.

Financial Analyst

EHang's transition from regulatory certification to commercial operations marks a critical financial inflection point. The company can now generate direct revenue through passenger flights rather than relying solely on vehicle sales or demonstration projects. This represents the commercialization of years of R&D investment.

The immediate revenue impact will come from tourism and sightseeing services - typically higher-margin operations with premium pricing potential. The multi-city expansion strategy suggests a deliberate scaling approach that balances capital requirements against market development.

Beyond direct revenue, these OCs create substantial competitive advantage as EHang can establish operational expertise, safety records, and market presence while competitors remain in pre-commercial phases. This first-mover position could translate to partnership opportunities with local operators seeking to enter the market.

The company's dual approach - operating directly through subsidiaries while also developing joint ventures like HeYi Aviation - creates multiple revenue channels and risk distribution. The mention of helping other local operators obtain their own OCs suggests a potential consulting or technology-licensing revenue stream beyond direct operations.

Investors should note this approval addresses one of the fundamental questions facing all eVTOL companies: Can they secure regulatory approval for commercial passenger operations? EHang has now affirmatively answered this question, reducing a significant element of regulatory risk that still faces its competitors.

GUANGZHOU, China, March 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EHang (Nasdaq: EH), the world’s leading Urban Air Mobility (UAM) technology platform company, announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Guangdong EHang General Aviation Co., Ltd. (“EHang General Aviation”), and its joint venture company in Hefei, Hefei HeYi Aviation Co., Ltd. (“HeYi Aviation”), have been granted the first batch of Air Operator Certificates (“OC”) for civil human-carrying pilotless aerial vehicles by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (“CAAC”).

This milestone officially marks the launch of China’s human-carrying flight era in the low-altitude economy, allowing citizens and consumers to purchase flight tickets for low-altitude tourism, urban sightseeing, and diverse commercial human-carrying flight services at related operation sites in Guangzhou and Hefei. In the future, operators will also gradually expand into more other scenarios such as urban commuting based on operational conditions legally and compliantly. The issuance of the first batch of OCs sets a new benchmark for the low-altitude economy and urban air mobility and further unleashing a more powerful vitality of the new-quality productive forces.

Image: EHang General Aviation (left) and Heyi Aviation (right) have obtained the first batch of OCs for civil human-carrying pilotless aerial vehicles nationwide.

EHang has already achieved multiple historical certification breakthroughs, including the world’s first type certificate (“TC”), standard airworthiness certificate (“AC”), and production certificate (“PC”) for pilotless human-carrying eVTOL aircraft. Now, with the newly granted OC, EHang becomes the world’s first eVTOL company to achieve the full suite of regulatory certifications. This achievement marks a significant step toward the commercialization and mass adoption of low-altitude human-carrying flight services.

EHang has always been committed to building the qualifications and capabilities required for the safe, regulated, and legal operation of pilotless human-carrying aerial vehicles. Looking ahead, EHang will continue collaborating with more partners to expand commercial operation sites, establishing additional low-altitude transportation operation centers in Guangzhou, Hefei, and other regions across China. These efforts will support local operators in applying for OCs for civil pilotless human-carrying aerial vehicles, enabling more cities to launch regular low-altitude tourism flights, urban sightseeing, and a wider range of commercial human-carrying flight services for the public.

Image: EHang Future City at Guangzhou Suigang Port

Image: Urban Air Mobility Operation Centers at Luogang Central Park in Hefei, China

Image: EHang eVTOL Operation Site at Tianding Lake in the Baizhangji Fall & Feiyun Lake Scenic Resort in Wencheng, Wenzhou, China

Image: Liangyun Low-Altitude Operation Site in Wuxi, China

Image: UAM Operation Center at OH Bay in Shenzhen, China

Image: Urban Air Mobility Exhibition (Experience) Center at Luohu Leisure Park in Shenzhen, China

Image: Low-altitude Operation Center at Tangjia Port in Zhuhai, China

Image: EHang eVTOL Operation Site at Guishan Island in Zhuhai, China

Image: EHang eVTOL Operation Site at Daotian Park in Taiyuan, China

About EHang

EHang (Nasdaq: EH) is the world’s leading urban air mobility (“UAM”) technology platform company. Our mission is to enable safe, autonomous, and eco-friendly air mobility accessible to everyone. EHang provides customers in various industries with civil pilotless aerial vehicle systems and solutions: air mobility (including human transportation and logistics), smart city management, and aerial media solutions. EHang’s flagship product EH216-S has obtained the world’s first type certificate, production certificate, standard airworthiness certificate and air operator certificate for pilotless human-carrying eVTOL aircraft issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China. As the forerunner of cutting-edge UAV technologies and commercial solutions in the global UAM industry, EHang continues to explore the boundaries of the sky to make flying technologies benefit our life in smart cities. For more information, please visit www.ehang.com.

Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains statements that may constitute “forward-looking” statements pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “aims,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “likely to” and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about management’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to those relating to certifications, our expectations regarding demand for, and market acceptance of, our products and solutions and the commercialization of UAM services, our relationships with strategic partners, and current litigation and potential litigation involving us. Management has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections. While they believe these expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections are reasonable, such forward-looking statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond management’s control. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause EHang’s actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

Media Contact: pr@ehang.com

Investor Contact: ir@ehang.com

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
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FAQ

What regulatory certifications has EHang (EH) achieved for its eVTOL aircraft as of March 2025?

EHang has obtained all four key certifications: type certificate (TC), standard airworthiness certificate (AC), production certificate (PC), and air operator certificate (OC), becoming the world's first eVTOL company to achieve this complete regulatory suite.

Which cities will initially offer EHang's (EH) commercial flight services in China?

Commercial flight services will initially launch in Guangzhou and Hefei, with plans to expand to other regions across China.

What types of commercial services will EHang (EH) offer with its certified eVTOL aircraft?

EHang will offer low-altitude tourism, urban sightseeing, and various commercial human-carrying flight services, with future plans to include urban commuting.

How will EHang's (EH) Air Operator Certificate impact its business operations?

The OC allows EHang to legally commence commercial human-carrying flight services, enabling ticket sales for various aerial services and expanding into multiple operation sites across China.