The promise of flying taxis is becoming reality in China. Two companies have just obtained authorization to launch this unprecedented service. Your next trip could allow you to try out this mode of transport worthy of a science fiction film.
Flying taxis are no longer a futuristic dream. By 2022, the company Chinese company AutoFlight announced possible commercial flights as early as 2025 with its Prosperity I model. It had even entered into a partnership with battery giant CATL to make this technology viable on a large scale. These predictions are coming true: China has become the first country in the world to officially authorize commercial flights of autonomous passenger drones. Urban air transport is entering a new era.
Two companies have received the green light from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). These are EHang Holdings, listed on the Nasdaq, and Hefei Hey Airlines. They are the first to obtain an operating certificate for this type of aircraft. This document allows them to operate real transport services, with specific routes and passengers on board. The first planned trips mainly concern sightseeing tours in major cities like Guangzhou.
China authorizes two companies to fly passengers in autonomous taxis from 2025
Before this commercial authorization, the companies had already obtained the necessary technical certifications: airworthiness, production, and drone type. The official launch began at the end of March. These flights will take place in controlled air zones and validated by local authorities. This new service is aimed at a wide audience, without the need for training or a pilot on board. If you travel to China this year, it is therefore entirely possible that you will be able to board a flying taxi, just like you would board a tourist bus. And At this rate, Tesla's robotaxis risk quickly becoming relics of the past.
This advancement should not remain confined to China. The market potential is enormous: it could exceed €190 billion by 2035. This should motivate other countries to follow suit. France, for example, has already shown interest in eVTOLs with several demonstrations in Paris on the sidelines of the 2024 Olympic Games. With ever-dense urban traffic, these devices represent a credible and practical alternative for short-distance travel. Without a driver, without traffic jams, and with a breathtaking view, these passenger drones could well become a mobility solution in their own right in the years to come. come.
China has officially entered the era of "flying taxis".
2 Chinese companies have obtained the commercial operation certificate for autonomous passenger drones from CAAC.
— Tansu Yegen (@TansuYegen) March 31, 2025
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