The first autonomous inter-province flight by an unmanned eVTOL aircraft pilotless eVTOL aircraft marks a milestone for regional air connectivity in China. EHang Company successfully completed the Qiongzhou Strait crossing with its EH216 model, setting a precedent for efficient transportation between Guangdong and Hainan.
An autonomous flight that changes the rules of the game
EH216 took off from Nanhai Mingzhu Island in Haikou and landed at Xuwen Port in Zhanjiang, covering 22 kilometers in just 18 minutes. This crossing represents a reduction of up to 80 % compared to conventional sea travel and validates the use of autonomous aircraft for interprovincial routes over bodies of water.
This flight was powered by a high-energy solid-state battery, jointly developed by EHang and Inx Energy. Its stable performance in challenging conditions, such as high winds and waves, confirms its usefulness in real-world operations and reinforces its applicability in island tourism, coastal logistics and emergency response.
Regional coordination and promotion of low altitude mobility
The crossing of the EH216 also strengthens the vision of an interprovincial air network. This type of operation aligns with the objectives of the Hainan Free Trade Port, which seeks to position itself as an innovation hub for the low-lying economy. With an infrastructure adapted to this new transportation model, provinces such as Guangdong and Hainan will be able to implement solutions for passenger and cargo mobility on short-range routes.
EHang has accumulated experience in extreme scenarios: high altitude flightssevere weather conditions and complex terrain. This background was essential for successfully executing the strait crossing. Route planning, meteorological studies and supporting logistics were completed in record time, demonstrating mature operational capability.
An interconnected future in the regional sky
This achievement not only validates EHang’s technology, but also demonstrates that autonomous air transportation can be integrated into regional infrastructure to create air corridors between coastal cities. The vision of a smart mobility ecosystem is beginning to materialize, with implications for trade, tourism and regional transportation sustainability.
Source and photo: EHang