EHang Completes First EH216‑S Pilotless Flights in Switzerland
EHang has successfully conducted the first pilotless flights of its EH216‑S eVTOL aircraft in Switzerland, expanding its global flight demonstrations to 22 countries.
The milestone flights took place on July 7, 2026, in Quinto, Ticino, in cooperation with the Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA), the Municipality of Quinto, and local partner DroneVia. The demonstrations highlighted the aircraft’s capability to operate in challenging Alpine terrain, including mountainous valleys.
Switzerland’s topography, with its rugged mountains, valleys, and lakes, presents unique opportunities for advanced air mobility applications. EHang aims to explore use cases such as passenger transport, eco-tourism, regional logistics, and emergency response services to complement existing transportation networks.
The EH216‑S is EHang’s flagship pilotless human-carrying eVTOL. It has previously received type certification, production certificate, and standard airworthiness certificate from China’s Civil Aviation Administration (CAAC). The aircraft features autonomous flight capabilities and electric propulsion designed for short-to-medium range operations.
Paolo Franchini, CEO of DroneVia, noted the significance of witnessing the technology in action and its potential for logistics, tourism, and public services in the Alpine region. Norman Gobbi, President of the Council of State of Ticino, emphasized the role such systems could play in improving accessibility in hard-to-reach mountain areas.
Victoria Jing Xiang, Chief Operating Officer of EHang Europe and Latin America, described the flights as an important step toward integrating autonomous air mobility into Switzerland’s transportation ecosystem.
The demonstrations mark progress toward operational validation, certification, and eventual commercial deployment in the region. EHang and its partners plan to continue working with Swiss authorities on infrastructure integration and future deployment opportunities.
