Hong Kong eVTOL Plans Reveal China’s Global Aviation Standards Strategy

Hong Kong just revealed its hand in the global eVTOL race, and it’s not just about air taxis. It’s about who writes the rules.

Dominic Chow Wing-hang, Hong Kong’s deputy director general of civil aviation, announced Saturday that passenger-carrying eVTOLs could begin trials within two to three years. But the announcement came at a Belt and Road Initiative conference in Beijing, not a tech showcase. That detail tells you everything about what’s really happening here.

The key facts:

• What: Hong Kong plans passenger eVTOL trials by 2027-2028
• Who: “Regulatory Sandbox X” will test aircraft over 330 lbs (150kg), including passenger-carrying eVTOLs
• Cost promise: “Just a fraction” of current helicopter services (HK$2,300-17,000 per trip, or $295-$2,180 USD)
• Range target: Next-gen eVTOLs could reach 621 miles (1,000km), enabling flights “beyond the Greater Bay Area”
• Why it matters: Hong Kong is actively participating in ICAO panels to “formulate global standards” for eVTOL operations

The full announcement was reported by the South China Morning Post.

“In the future, in two to three years, [two-tonne class non-conventional aircraft], including those which have the capacity of carrying people, could be put on trial,” Chow said at the conference.

The EHang Connection No One Is Discussing

Look at the photo accompanying Hong Kong’s announcement. That’s an EHang 216, the Chinese-made autonomous air taxi that holds the world’s only eVTOL type certificate. This isn’t an accident.

EHang received its type certificate from China’s Civil Aviation Administration (CAAC) on October 13, 2023. Two years later, EHang announced the VT35, a long-range model promising “several hundred miles” of range. That 1,000km figure Chow mentioned? It matches EHang’s VT35 specifications exactly.

The math here is straightforward. EHang is the only company with certified passenger eVTOLs. Hong Kong is creating a regulatory pathway for passenger eVTOLs. Hong Kong is using ICAO participation to influence global eVTOL standards.

Connect the dots.

Belt and Road Meets Global Aviation Standards

Chow’s announcement wasn’t made at an aviation conference. It was made at a Belt and Road Initiative conference in Beijing, where he discussed how Hong Kong could help “aviation technology exchanges with the mainland and the rest of the world.”

“We are promoting not only cross-boundary flights, but also the required coordination between both sides for standard-setting and technological innovation,” Chow said.

Translation: Hong Kong is positioning itself as China’s gateway for exporting aviation standards globally. The city is actively participating in International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) panels to help “formulate global standards for advanced air mobility operations.”

This is significant because ICAO has not yet decided on global eVTOL standards. Whoever gets there first shapes the rules everyone else follows.

As the Transport and Logistics Bureau told SCMP: “At present, the ICAO has yet to formulate unified international standards and recommended practices for eVTOL aircraft.”

Hong Kong’s Regulatory Head Start

Hong Kong isn’t starting from scratch. The city launched its Low-Altitude Economy Regulatory Sandbox in March 2025, approving 38 pilot projects from 72 applications. By October, 28 of those projects were already operational, collecting real-world data on everything from medical delivery to railway inspections.

We’ve covered this extensively. MTR Corporation cut tunnel inspection times by two-thirds using automated drones in GPS-denied environments. Hong Kong allocated dedicated 1.4 GHz spectrum specifically for drone communications while the FAA debates its 700-page BVLOS rule.

The new “Regulatory Sandbox X” specifically targets “unconventional aircraft” over 330 lbs (150kg) and passenger-carrying eVTOLs. Applications for cross-boundary trials remain open until late January 2026, though actual launch depends on agreements with mainland authorities regarding customs, immigration, and quarantine.

The Western eVTOL Reality Check

While Hong Kong plans passenger eVTOL trials by 2027, here’s where Western competitors stand:

Joby Aviation: Targeting FAA certification in 2025, commercial operations potentially 2026. Still zero type certificates.

Archer Aviation: Similar timeline. Still chasing FAA approval.

EHang: Already operating commercially in China since 2023. Production certificate granted April 2024. Over 50 aircraft delivered.

As we noted when Honda revealed its eVTOL program at the Dubai Airshow: EHang is the only company that has actually achieved eVTOL type certification anywhere in the world. Western companies are still chasing certification while Chinese manufacturers are already operating commercially.

DroneXL’s Take

The timing of this announcement is not coincidental. While American drone operators face the December 23 FCC deadline that could ground DJI equipment, and Congress debates whether to ban Chinese drones entirely, China is building the regulatory infrastructure to dominate the next generation of aviation.

Hong Kong isn’t just planning air taxis. It’s positioning itself as the certification gateway for Chinese eVTOL manufacturers to access international markets. The Belt and Road Initiative isn’t just about physical infrastructure anymore. It’s about exporting standards.

Here’s what I expect: Within five years, ICAO eVTOL standards will closely mirror CAAC requirements, because China will have the most operational data, the most certified aircraft, and the most active participation in standards bodies. Western manufacturers chasing FAA certification will then face the choice of re-certifying to ICAO standards or watching Chinese competitors dominate international markets.

The low-altitude economy race isn’t about who builds the best eVTOL. It’s about who writes the rules. And right now, that’s not us.

What do you think about Hong Kong’s eVTOL ambitions? Let us know in the comments below.