FROM CITY SHUTTLE TO REGIONAL LINK: HOW THE VT35 REIMAGINES AIR MOBILITY
The eHang VT35 eVTOL marks a decisive shift in autonomous air mobility, moving beyond short urban hops to target genuine regional routes of up to 125 miles (200 km). Unveiled in Hefei on 13 October 2025, the VT35 is eHang's most ambitious aircraft to date: a pilotless, two-seat tandem-wing platform designed to connect cities autonomously, with a cruise speed of 134 mph and 60 minutes of flight time on a full charge. At 6.5 million yuan (approximately 800,000 euros) for the Chinese domestic market standard version, it signals eHang's intent to move from certified urban shuttle to regional transport backbone.
From Urban Shuttle to Regional Link: What the VT35 Changes
EHang's earlier EH216-S, now certified in China, covers short intra-city distances at low altitude. The VT35 operates on a fundamentally different flight profile: eight distributed lift propellers handle vertical takeoff and landing, then the aircraft transitions to fixed-wing cruise mode powered by a rear pusher propeller, enabling efficient long-range flight. The tandem wing layout provides stability and a compact footprint (approximately 8 m length and wingspan, 3 m height, 950 kg maximum takeoff weight) while carrying a payload of up to 440 lb. This hybrid VTOL-fixed-wing approach is the same architecture pursued by competing platforms from Joby and Archer, but the VT35 arrives with autonomous pilotless operation as its defining proposition rather than a stepping stone.
Cabin, Autonomy, and Safety Systems
The VT35 cabin is designed around passenger comfort for longer journeys: premium materials, reclining seating for two, and an environment that competes with business-class regional aviation rather than the utilitarian interiors of first-generation air taxis. Autonomous systems reduce the dependency on onboard crew, enabling higher vehicle utilization and lower operational costs compared to piloted aircraft. Fault tolerance is built into the distributed propulsion system: multiple rotor redundancy means that individual motor failures do not compromise safe flight or landing, a critical certification criterion for commercial passenger operations. EHang has already demonstrated a proven regulatory pathway with the EH216-S, and the VT35 follows that model with its sights set on CAAC certification for Chinese inter-city corridors such as the Greater Bay Area.
How the VT35 Fits the Air Mobility Landscape
The VT35's 200 km range and 134 mph cruise make it viable for corridors that are currently served by short-hop domestic flights or two-hour road journeys, the exact market segment where air mobility can deliver the greatest time savings. By operating autonomously, eHang also sidesteps the pilot shortage that constrains conventional regional aviation. If public acceptance, infrastructure (vertiports, charging networks), and regulatory approvals align on schedule, the VT35 could reshape intercity mobility in China within the decade, with implications for other markets watching eHang's progress.
Discover the Future of Air Mobility at TheArsenale
For those captivated by the eVTOL revolution, TheArsenale curates the most forward-looking aircraft and flying vehicles available today. Explore the Air collection for eVTOL, ultralight, and flying car concepts, including the EHang AAV autonomous passenger drone, the XPENG X2 eVTOL flying car, and the Insky Linx personal aircraft. The VT35 is a glimpse of the regional air networks that will define mobility in the 2030s.
Photo: eHang
