Shanghai spearheads China's 'flying taxi' future

Shanghai-based private company, VerTaxi, is spearheading China's ambitions in the burgeoning "flying taxi" market, with its domestically developed electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft nearing commercialization.

The company has completed the structural production of its first flight-worthy eVTOL model, the M1B, at its manufacturing facility in Jinshan district, Shanghai, and is now entering the assembly and testing phase.

VerTaxi aims to obtain certification for cargo operations this year and passenger operations by 2027, marking a significant step towards the commercialization of eVTOLs in China, according to the company.

A fully domestic effort

VerTaxi's approach to eVTOL development emphasizes full domestic production, utilizing the expertise of China's automotive parts manufacturers.

VerTaxi Founder and CEO Xie Ling believes this strategy will allow China to take a leading role in the low-altitude economy.

"Full domestic production provides cost advantages," Xie Ling explained.

"We consider it a challenging yet correct path," he added, acknowledging the difficulties involved in working with small domestic suppliers.

VerTaxi's commitment to innovation is evident in its continuous investment in research and development.

The M1B, the company's latest model, features significant upgrades from its predecessor, the M1, which completed its first flight in 2023. The upgrades include a new flight control system for enhanced safety, higher-capacity batteries and more powerful motors, resulting in improved range and payload capacity.

The aircraft also incorporates more advanced composite materials, making it lighter and stronger.

"These improvements have increased the aircraft's range by at least 20 percent and allow for continuous hovering at maximum takeoff weight," Xie said.

"This meets the design specifications for the M1B's type certificate application, making it suitable for special scenarios such as emergency firefighting."