Autoflight completes first intercity eVTOL flight  

China’s Autoflight has completed an autonomous 50km eVTOL journey from Shenzhen to Zhuhai, claimed to be the world’s first intercity air taxi flight.

Autoflight

According to the company, the uncrewed, passengerless flight of its Prosperity vehicle across the Pearl River Delta took just 20 minutes, compared with the three hours usually required by car. The Shenzhen-Zhuhai route is part of the future air traffic scenario planned by the regional government as it develops its ‘low-altitude economy’ strategy that aims to open thousands of vertiports across the Greater Bay Area in southern China.

“We are thrilled to showcase AutoFlight’s cutting-edge capabilities today in the world’s first cross-sea and inter-city eVTOL demonstration flight,” said Tian Yu, founder, CEO and co-chairman of AutoFlight.

“Working closely together with the local authorities and partners here, and in other jurisdictions around the world, we will continue to drive this revolution to bring safe, efficient, sustainable and affordable eVTOL flight options to cities around the world.”

In February 2023, Autoflight claimed a world record flight of over 250km on a single charge with its Prosperity I eVTOL. The remotely piloted flight lasted 1 hour 38 minutes and included 20 circuits of a predefined route near a testing facility in Jining, China.

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