China's Flying Cars Enter Commercialization Phase, "Air Taxis" Possible Within a Decade

During the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026–2030), the low-altitude economy will be prioritized as an emerging pillar industry. Flying cars are seen as the key enabler for transitioning the low-altitude economy from industrial-grade drone operations to manned transportation, with the potential to catalyze industrial clusters valued between one trillion and ten trillion RMB. Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, has already established a smart manufacturing base for flying cars that integrates "automotive efficiency with aviation standards." The facility has an annual design capacity of 100 units and primarily produces a multi-rotor flying car capable of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL), with a maximum range of 30 kilometers and seating for two passengers. Before entering the market, this product must undergo rigorous airworthiness certification. Previously, China’s first airworthiness-certified, passenger-carrying autonomous flying car—the EHang EH216—entered commercial trial operations, conducting multiple daily flights at several flight bases, primarily for aerial sightseeing. An upgraded variant, the EH216-S, recently completed its first manned demonstration flight at the Egret Bay Ecological Park in Jinjiang District, Chengdu. By early 2027, scenic park tours in Chengdu are expected to become the first commercial application scenario, allowing residents to experience a roughly 30-kilometer “air taxi” service priced at several hundred RMB per ride. The flying car industry has already made substantial progress in routine validation flights, airspace management mechanisms, real-world application scenarios, and infrastructure development, marking its entry into the commercial exploration phase. Current applications focus on high-value, time-sensitive use cases such as emergency medical transport, specialized firefighting and rescue operations, and premium point-to-point shuttle services. Over the next decade, as technology matures and costs decline, hailing a flying car via ride-hailing apps could become a reality. Additionally, EVE Energy’s Solid-State Battery Research Institute has established a mass production facility in Chengdu, which last year achieved manufacturing capabilities for 10–60 Ah all-solid-state batteries. The facility has preliminarily validated its production processes and launched the “Longquan No. 2” all-solid-state battery, designed for high-end equipment including humanoid robots, low-altitude aircraft, and AI-powered devices.