China green-lights mass production of autonomous flying taxis

[Bayard]

The EHang EH216-S autonomous flying taxi is the first eVTOL ready for mass production and could lead the way for flying cars around the world.


EHang's EH216-S "passenger-carrying pilotless" eVTOL has received clearance to be mass-produced. (Image credit: EHang)

Autonomous flying taxis could soon be a reality after vehicle manufacturer EHang obtained the world’s first production certificate to manufacture them in China.

EHang's EH216-S "passenger-carrying pilotless" electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle received clearance to be mass-produced from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), company representatives announced in a statement on April 7.

Many companies manufacture eVTOLs, but they have so far only been developed as prototypes for test flights. This decision represents a notable step towards introducing eVTOLs commercially.

"Our vision is to introduce safe and reliable pilotless eVTOL aircraft to the global market, thereby offering safe, autonomous and eco-friendly air mobility services to everyone," Huazhi Hu, CEO of EHang, said in the statement. The production certificate gives EHang the go-ahead to manufacture flying cars, encompassing the sourcing of raw materials, supply chain management, quality control and testing, in addition to after-sales repair and maintenance — all verified by comprehensive reviews and inspections.


(Image credit: EHang)

https://www.livescience.com/technology/electric-vehicles/china-green-lights-mass-production-of-autonomous-flying-taxis-with-commercial-flights-set-for-2025?utm_term=55C996C6-4393-4B13-9736-9BEC0BC6AFA6&lrh=990ccd8e582dc48a5de81889b47c5d726c369528246fb5cf774b4c820833a528&utm_campaign=368B3745-DDE0-4A69-A2E8-62503D85375D&utm_medium=email&utm_content=3BB35137-E0BA-4223-8FC6-A0028425313F&utm_source=SmartBrief



For some reason, this reminds me of the Will Smith movie, "I, Robot."

[DFW]

1. That looks like one way to try and limit their overpopulation issue

Not very cost effective, though, and plus a certain percentage of them might even function as planned--for a while, anyway.

[Beartracks]

2. Imagine if the blades start up while you're disembarking...

=============

[captain queeg]

3. I could picture a city with crowded skies, vtols running amok

They’ll have radar or something to avoid collisions, weaving in and out at high speed. It might appear random to human onlookers but could be relatively safe. I think of various movies depicting that. Still, I doubt it would be accepted in the US.

[EX500rider]

4. Unless they go to ducted fans, nothing about that is safe

16 high speed blades surrounding it scream DANGER WILL SMITH!

[Xavier Breath]

6. "It slices and dices" is not how you want your mode of transportation to be described. n/t

[haele]

5. Flying pilotless drone Taxies,

Whatever could go wrong?
Do they expect passengers to just sit still during the ride?
What about larger passengers, or couples?
On edit, will they check blood alcohol or for drugs before a passenger climbs aboard.
And what about a faulty battery, or long term pollution damage to the motors and rotors?

Haele

[werdna]

7. "Meet George Jetson -

His boy, Elroy. Daughter Judy. Jane, his wife." Or rather -

來認識喬治傑森。
女兒朱迪
簡，他的妻子

[Emile]

8. At 410 thousand dollars each I don't think they will be

falling out of the sky anytime soon.

?si=VksT6dL8ymCsA8fq

[Bayard]

9. Thanks for additional info

[Emile]

10. It is pretty cool.

[David__77]

11. It seems like they could at least help with emergency services.

[LudwigPastorius]

12. Impractical at this point.

Its range is 22 miles. The city of Beijing, and its suburbs, is the size of Montenegro.

Maybe they'll sell enough to the rich as toys to keep the company in business, but otherwise...