EHang Completes First Autonomous eVTOL Flight in Bangkok, Thailand

EHang Holdings Achieves Historic Autonomous eVTOL Milestone in Bangkok

China-based EHang Holdings has successfully completed the first fully autonomous urban eVTOL passenger flight, marking a watershed moment for commercial air taxi development. The historic flight occurred on November 24, 2025, in Bangkok, Thailand, using the company’s autonomous two-seat EHang 216 aircraft under the AAM Sandbox Initiative, in collaboration with Thailand’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAAT).

The flight’s most significant achievement was carrying Air Chief Marshal Manat Chavanaprayoon, Director General of CAAT, making him the first civil aviation authority chief globally to experience a pilotless urban eVTOL flight. This regulatory participation underscores the legitimacy and oversight of the demonstration and represents a critical step toward regulatory approval for commercial operations.

The demonstration took place at the headquarters of Siam Commercial Bank in Bangkok’s central business district, attended by senior Thai government officials, nearly 100 business leaders, and media representatives. The EH216-S successfully performed multiple takeoffs, landings, and route flights, operating smoothly throughout the demonstration despite urban environmental challenges.

“With the support of the CAAT, Thailand is highly likely to achieve the world’s first commercial eVTOL operations using an innovative regulatory approach of ‘sandbox’, creating a demonstration model for Southeast Asia and the world,” stated Conor Yang, Chief Financial Officer of EHang.

The sandbox regulatory framework represents a paradigm shift in aviation certification, allowing controlled testing of innovative aircraft systems in real urban environments before full commercial deployment. This approach balances innovation advancement with safety oversight—a model gaining traction globally.

EHang’s achievement comes shortly after Joby Aviation’s crewed eVTOL milestone on November 16, 2025, in the UAE, demonstrating the accelerating pace of commercial air taxi development. However, EHang’s autonomous demonstration represents a distinct advantage, as pilotless operations reduce operational costs and eliminate pilot fatigue variables.

EHang plans to expand its demonstration area to Thailand’s popular destinations including Pattaya, Phuket, and Koh Samui, establishing infrastructure for regular commercial operations. This expansion strategy positions Thailand as a potential leader in Southeast Asian urban air mobility markets.

The Bangkok flight establishes a foundation for EHang’s enhanced market presence in Thailand and validates the technological maturity of autonomous eVTOL systems for urban operations, signaling that commercial air taxi services may be nearer than previously anticipated.

Source ID: SRCE-2025-1764166176000-976