EHang Teases VT35 Long-Range Air Taxi Launch for October 13

Chinese eVTOL manufacturer EHang has announced its next-generation long-range passenger aircraft will debut on October 13, marking a major expansion beyond its certified short-range models. The VT35 pilotless passenger eVTOL promises “several hundred miles” of range compared to the company’s current 22-mile (35km) EH216-S air taxi.

The October 13 unveiling strategically coincides with the two-year anniversary of EHang receiving the world’s first eVTOL Type Certificate from China’s Civil Aviation Administration (CAAC) for the EH216-S. That certification breakthrough established EHang as the only company currently operating certified autonomous air taxis commercially.

VT35 Targets Intercity Routes

The VT35 represents a fundamental design shift from EHang’s multicopter configuration to a lift-and-cruise architecture using separate propulsion systems for takeoff and forward flight. According to company announcements, the aircraft is designed for “medium- to long-distance air mobility, including intercity, cross-sea, and cross-mountain transport.”

Based on the earlier VT30 prototype which demonstrated 186-mile (300km) range, the VT35 incorporates upgraded autonomous flight control and propulsion systems. EHang’s Type Certificate application for the VT35 was accepted by CAAC in February 2025 and remains under airworthiness review.

The Chinese manufacturer has established a comprehensive VT35 production hub in Hefei through a $140 million partnership with local government, covering development, testing, manufacturing, and certification activities.

DroneXL’s Take

EHang’s timing here isn’t subtle—launching a long-range model on the anniversary of their certification win sends a clear message to competitors like Joby and Archer that they’re not standing still. While Western eVTOL companies chase 2025 certification deadlines, EHang is already two years into commercial operations with the EH216-S and pushing toward intercity routes.

The real question is whether CAAC will move as quickly on VT35 certification as they did with the EH216-S. China’s aggressive push to have 100,000 air taxis flying by 2030 suggests regulatory support will continue, but the lift-and-cruise design represents more complex certification challenges than the simpler multicopter configuration.

If EHang can replicate its certification success with the VT35, it could establish dominant positioning in the intercity air taxi market while competitors are still working on short urban hops. October 13 should reveal whether this is real hardware ready for flight testing or just another concept teaser.

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