The EH216-S, a passenger-carrying, pilotless electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle (eVTOL) from Chinese manufacturer EHang, is not a helicopter or an aircraft, but something new. On a beautiful day in September 2025, this quiet machine made history as the first eVTOL to fly with passengers in Africa.
At the 9th Aviation Africa Summit and Exhibition, the flight carried Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority representatives as well as China Media Group journalists. Rwandan President Paul Kagame was among the spectators. The EH216-S took off, hovered and landed without human intervention. For a continent where roads are often blocked by mountains or seasonal flooding and metropolitan hubs like Kigali are congested, this experiment showed how electric air taxis can bridge the gaps that ground-based solutions can’t.
Sale
DJI Neo, Mini Drone with 4K UHD Camera for Adults, 135g Self Flying Drone that Follows You, Palm Takeoff, Subject Tracking, QuickShots, Stabilized Video, Built-In Propeller Guard (Controller-Free)
- Due to platform compatibility issue, the DJI Fly app has been removed from Google Play. DJI Neo must be activated in the DJI Fly App, to ensure a better product usage experience, please go to the DJI official website to download the App before use.
- Lightweight and Regulation Friendly - At just 135g, this drone with camera for adults 4K may be even lighter than your phone and does not require FAA registration and Remote ID. Throw Neo in your backpack or even your pocket. Just grab and go!
- Palm Takeoff & Landing, Go Controller-Free [1] - Neo takes off from your hand with just a push of a button. The safe and easy operation of this drone for adults makes it perfect for taking to family BBQs and hiking with friends.
EHang’s journey to this milestone began years ago in China when the company built the EH216-S to be self-sufficient from the start. Unlike traditional airplanes, it uses a network of sensors, cameras and algorithms to navigate. It can carry two passengers and fly at 80mph with a range of 22 miles per charge. It’s electric so there are no emissions during flight which is in line with Rwanda’s commitment to sustainable development.
Rural communities in Africa are cut off by mountains or seasonal flooding while urban centers like Kigali are congested. Conventional infrastructure projects like highways or railways take years and billions to build. The EH216-S requires minimal ground support: a landing pad, a charging station and a control system. The partnership with China Road and Bridge Corporation, the state-owned giant behind Kenya’s Mombasa–Nairobi Railway, suggests EHang sees Africa as a market with huge potential.
China’s civil aviation authorities has given full approval for the EH216-S, the world’s first passenger-carrying pilotless eVTOL. This was not a quick process because China has strict standards for autonomous aircraft and EHang met them all, getting approval for operation and production. This head start gives the company an edge as it expands to 21 countries across five continents, from the UAE’s futuristic cities to Thailand’s busy streets. Rwanda is the latest chapter.
The company is already working on a long-range version of the EH216-S for cross-sea and cross-mountain flights. For Africa, that means faster access to medical supplies, easier travel for remote communities or even new economic opportunities in areas long neglected.
