EHang completes first EH216-S autonomous eVTOL flights in Switzerland

First EH216-S autonomous eVTOL flights in Switzerland

EHang, the Chinese Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) technology company, has announced the successful completion of the first Swiss flights of its pilotless electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, the EH216-S.

With this latest milestone, EHang’s global flight footprint now spans 22 countries. The flight event in Quinto, in the canton of Ticino, highlights how autonomous eVTOL technology can handle demanding mountainous environments, while pointing towards future uses in regional logistics and tourism.

Partners, authorities and the route to long-term AAM deployment

The flights were carried out in collaboration with the Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA), the Municipality of Quinto, and DroneVia, EHang’s strategic project partner in Switzerland. EHang says the achievement is an important step towards establishing safe, long-term AAM deployment nationwide, while moving forward on operational validation, airworthiness certification, airspace management and commercial operations.

Building on the results of these flights, EHang and its Swiss partners plan to work progressively with regulators and local stakeholders to assess future commercial deployment opportunities, alongside efforts to support infrastructure integration.

Why Switzerland’s alpine landscape suits autonomous electric aviation

Switzerland’s distinctive geography-alpine terrain, steep valleys and lake regions-provides favourable conditions for deploying autonomous electric aviation. EHang intends to concentrate on demonstration scenarios in which the EH216-S could complement Switzerland’s existing mobility networks, with the aim of offering a sustainable and efficient supplement to traditional transport.

According to EHang, potential applications could extend to passenger transport, ecotourism, regional logistics and emergency-response missions.

EH216-S aircraft and EHang’s certifications

The EH216-S is EHang’s flagship pilotless human-carrying eVTOL aircraft, designed for autonomous flight and short- to medium-range air transport. EHang describes itself as the world’s first publicly listed AAM company, and the first to receive a Type Certificate (TC), Production Certificate (PC) and Standard Airworthiness Certificate (AC) from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) for a pilotless human-carrying eVTOL. The company adds that its environmentally friendly propulsion and pilotless architecture make it well suited to missions requiring safe, efficient and affordable air mobility.

Comments from DroneVia, Ticino and EHang

Paolo Franchini, Chief Executive Officer of DroneVia, said: “For the first time in Switzerland, participants were able to witness flights of the EH216-S, one of the most advanced eVTOL aircraft. Technologies that seemed like distant visions only a few years ago are now a reality, opening entirely new prospects for transporting people and goods, logistics, tourism and public services in the alpine region.”

Norman Gobbi, President of the Council of State of Ticino, Switzerland, and Director of the Department of Institutions, noted:

“Drones capable of transporting goods and people are, in fact, creating new mobility opportunities in alpine areas, supporting businesses on mountain pastures and solving logistical challenges in hard-to-reach locations. We must have the courage to embrace and test new solutions in our alpine valleys, which can help improve accessibility in our mountainous areas.”

Victoria Jing Xiang, Chief Operating Officer of EHang Europe and Latin America, commented:

*“The EH216-S flights in Quinto are an important milestone for pilotless AAM in Switzerland. We believe this sustainable technology expands advanced mobility options, improving regional connectivity, supporting ecotourism and overcoming challenging alpine terrain to complement traditional transport.

Looking ahead, EHang is committed to deepening collaboration with local authorities and our Swiss partners, working side by side to safely integrate autonomous flight into the national mobility ecosystem, bringing us closer to our vision of making safe, efficient and sustainable air mobility accessible to everyone.”*

Information from EHang