Chinese Companies Get Flying Taxis Off the Ground
A pilot monitors the landing of a 5-ton class eVTOL aircraft at AutoFlight flight testing field in Shanghai, China, on Feb. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
A preview of what the future of flying taxis could look like is taking shape in southeastern China. In a hangar in the city of Kunshan, about 35 miles west of the major port of Shanghai, engineers prepared an enormous drone-like aircraft for a demonstration flight.
The aircraft, called the Matrix, is a 5-ton electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle, or eVTOL. It is considered the largest electric aircraft built in China so far. Developed by the Chinese company AutoFlight, the Matrix is designed to carry up to 10 passengers. The aircraft has a wingspan of 66 feet and measures 56 feet long and 11 feet tall. It can stay in the air for about an hour before needing to recharge.
The long-term goal is for aircraft like the Matrix to eventually serve as flying taxis, though experts say that widespread use is still years away.
During a demonstration at AutoFlight’s low-altitude flight test facility, the company first moved the Matrix from the hangar to a nearby helipad. After the propellers were powered up and the aircraft completed several pre-flight checks, the eVTOL lifted smoothly into the air. While the vehicle produced noticeable noise, it was quieter than a traditional helicopter.
The Matrix flew for about 10 minutes, completing two loops around the heliport before returning and landing without any issues.
When asked when flying taxis might become widely available, Steven Yang, senior vice president of AutoFlight, said it is difficult to predict. However, he believes the technology will eventually reach commercial use. The company has already built a smaller 2-ton passenger version of the aircraft, but it is still waiting for regulatory certification.
AutoFlight hopes to receive a type certificate from aviation regulators by 2027, which would confirm the aircraft meets safety standards. Even after that approval, additional certifications would be needed before the aircraft could carry passengers commercially. For now, the Matrix remains a prototype.
Several other companies in China are also developing eVTOL aircraft. One company based in Guangdong province, EHANG, has already received certification to offer commercial passenger services, although those flights have not yet begun.
In the meantime, China’s so-called “low-altitude economy” is already expanding in other ways. Delivery drones are increasingly being used to transport food and other items.
Gary Ng, a senior economist at Natixis Corporate and Investment Banking, said several challenges still stand in the way of flying taxis becoming common. These include ensuring safety, building the necessary infrastructure, and managing operational logistics such as flight routes.
“All of the ecosystem surrounding the technology is still underdeveloped at this point,” Ng said. “It will likely take at least another three years before we see something more practical and viable.”
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