EHang EH216-S
Chinese eVTOL developer EHang is set to mark a major milestone during this year’s Aviation Africa Summit and Exhibition 2025 on Sept. 4 with the first ever public demonstration flight of an electric air taxi on the continent.
The historic passenger flight will take place in Rwandan capital Kigali in front of senior government officials and over 1,700 delegates at the Kigali Convention Centre, making it a landmark moment for Africa’s Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) sector.
Conducted in collaboration with the Rwandan Civil Aviation Authority (RCAA), EHang’s flight signals Rwanda’s position as a leader in Urban Air Mobility (UAM). The two-passenger EH216-S is the world’s first pilotless human-carrying eVTOL to achieve the full suite of regulatory certifications, including its Air Operator Certificate (OC) for passenger-carrying pilotless aerial vehicles from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).
“We are proud to have achieved this historic milestone in Rwanda—the first flight of EH216-S, our passenger-carrying UAS in Africa with people on board,” said Jing Xiang, chief operating officer for International, EHang.
“This demonstration is the result of our close collaboration with the RCAA and other public stakeholders and showcases the safety and maturity of our technology. We are confident that today marks the beginning of a new chapter for AAM in Africa, with Rwanda once again leading the way in innovation and smart mobility,” said Xiang.
The eVTOL has a flight range of up to 30 km (18.6 miles) and top speed of approximately 130 km/h (80.8 mph). It is powered by 16 electric motors mounted on eight arms. The flight in Kigali follows EHang’s successful demonstration of passenger flights in Indonesia in June. The EH216-S has also flown passenger missions in Thailand, Spain and multiple Chinese regions. The flight in Kigali also marks part of EHang’s wider investment across the African continent.
“This historic air taxi flight marks a pivotal moment for Africa,” said Jonty Slater, co-chair of the African Drone Forum (ADF). “It underlines the continent’s ability to leapfrog its mobility issues by embracing the low-altitude [airspace typically below 400 ft.] economy and unlocking the multiple opportunities it can bring.”
The demonstration flight aligns with Rwanda’s plans to develop a low-altitude economy and a comprehensive UAM ecosystem with tourism identified as one of the key early use cases. The country is already planning a network of 30 vertiports around the country to support UAM operations and is currently developing the appropriate airspace management and regulatory frameworks.
Rwanda already has valuable experience of UAM operations over the last decade having partnered with U.S. firm Zipline, which uses drones to deliver medical supplies to remote areas in the country.
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