China is accelerating its push into the low-altitude economy, a strategic emerging industry built around drones, electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, and smart aviation infrastructure. The sector has been included in multiple national and provincial development plans, and is projected to develop into a billion-dollar market over the next five to 10 years.

But domestic companies still faces critical challenges as they seek to bring this technology to skies around the world.

The term "low-altitude economy," formally introduced into China's policy discourse in 2023, refers to economic activities operating below 3,000 meters, covering aerial logistics, emergency response, passenger eVTOL services, industrial inspections and more. China's upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan is expected to further expand policy support for this field.

The second edition of AERO Asia wrapped up in late November at the Zhuhai International Airshow Center in south China's Guangdong Province, recording contract signings worth over 7 billion yuan ($989.32 million) and 837 aircraft sold across multiple categories.

International representation at the show has increased, too. More than 380 companies from 22 countries presented new technologies spanning general aviation, eVTOL aircraft, drones and emerging low-altitude applications. A themed conference on low-altitude economy on the sidelines of the show featured over 300 officials, experts and business leaders from the U.S., France, Russia, Thailand, Australia, Cameroon and others.

Several new eVTOL models made their public debut at the show.

Zero Gravity Aircraft Industry from Anhui Province unveiled its six-seat tilt-wing eVTOL ZG-T6, aimed at business transport, emergency rescue and heavy-load logistics.

AEROFUGIA, an eVTOL brand under Chinese carmaker Geely, exhibited its mass-produced AE200, another six-seat eVTOL targeting urban mobility scenarios.

The company already completed its factory for eVTOL manufacture in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, aiming to begin pilot production in 2026 and complete airworthiness certification between 2026 and 2027.

With China's dense industrial clusters and its strong aviation and electronics supply chain, several automakers have moved aggressively into the eVTOL sector. Geely Group now envisions an integrated mobility ecosystem that links eVTOL aircraft with ground vehicles, satellite networks and ride-hailing services such as CaoCao Mobility.

XPENG AEROHT, the flying car affiliate of Chinese electric vehicle maker XPENG, is also expanding rapidly. It has begun trial production of its modular "Land Aircraft Carrier" in a new factory in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province. 

The company has secured orders for nearly 5,000 flying cars since its product release, and mass production and delivery are scheduled for 2026. 

Airworthiness certification remains central to global expansion efforts

Unlike consumer drones, passenger eVTOLs must satisfy highly stringent safety standards, new infrastructure demands and globally harmonized traffic management.

In October, XPENG AEROHT debuted its flying car in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), generating 600 orders from the Middle East market.

AEROFUGIA also told CGTN that it secured an order from a Thai client during AERO Asia 2025.

While Chinese eVTOL companies are gaining international interest from Southeast Asia to the Middle East, airworthiness certification still remains the biggest hurdle. 

"We first need to complete the domestic airworthiness process. After that, the Thai Civil Aviation Authority must review and recognize our certification," AEROFUGIA's Wang Shuying told CGTN.

Among China's rising eVTOL players, EHang stands out as the first company in the world to obtain the full set of airworthiness approvals for a pilotless passenger-carrying eVTOL. Since 2023, its EH216-S has successively received type certification, standard airworthiness certification, production certification and commercial air-operator authorization from the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

EHang has also accelerated its international footprint. The company has conducted demonstration flights in the UAE, Japan and Southeast Asia.

On November 24, EHang launched passenger-carrying eVTOL demonstration flights in Thailand in partnership with the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand.

While global airworthiness remains a long-term challenge for the entire industry, EHang's early regulatory progress gives it a head start in testing and market access.

Industry experts widely agree that China's low-altitude economy cannot rely on manufacturing alone. It requires coordinated progress in standards, training, digital infrastructure and regional integration.

To support this development, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of China (AOPA-China) has introduced China's first AI-powered aviation large model, designed to strengthen safety, training and decision-making across the sector.

"We know that the prosperity of the low-altitude economy is never a solo effort. It depends on coordinated progress across the entire industrial chain, both domestically and internationally," said Zhang Feng, the president of AOPA-China. He added that AOPA-China will continue advancing standardized development, building platforms for government–industry dialogue, supporting the establishment of demonstration zones, and strengthening cooperation across Asia in areas such as airspace management, cross-border flights and unmanned systems.

"Our goal is to build a more interconnected, innovative and resilient ecosystem for China's low-altitude future."