On September 29, AEROFUGIA, a general aviation enterprise under Geely Technology Group, rolled out its first AE200-100 large passenger electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft at the company’s facility in Chengdu, according to an announcement on its official WeChat account.

The event marked the completion of fuselage assembly and installation of major onboard systems, advancing the aircraft toward manned flight testing. AEROFUGIA stated that this achievement represents a key milestone in the development of large-scale passenger eVTOLs in China and signals the company’s transition to full-scale certification and pre-production stages.

According to AEROFUGIA, the next phase of the AE200 program will emphasize comprehensive system testing, flight validation, and compliance assessments under the supervision of aviation regulators and local authorities. These steps aim to fine-tune aircraft performance, ensure safety standards, and prepare for airworthiness certification leading up to eventual mass production.

The company also reported that it has received commitments for approximately 1,000 units of the AE200, with first-year production capacity already allocated. Orders have come from major Chinese economic regions, including the Chengdu–Chongqing Economic Circle, the Yangtze River Delta, the Pearl River Delta, and the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei area. This broad demand highlights the growing domestic market interest in low-altitude air mobility solutions.

The AE200 features three main advantages. First, it offers a range of 200 kilometers, enabling flexible operations such as intercity transportation, airport transfers, sightseeing tours, low-altitude tourism, and emergency rescue missions. Second, the aircraft’s all-electric propulsion system significantly lowers operating costs compared to traditional helicopters of similar capacity, enhancing its commercial potential. Third, the AE200 is the first eVTOL in China - and the second in the world - to complete a full tilt-rotor transition flight test, positioning it ahead of most competitors in the global certification process.

In parallel, AEROFUGIA’s global headquarters and production base in Chengdu’s Future Science and Technology City have reached the structural topping-out stage. The facility is scheduled to begin operations in 2026 and will integrate research and development, manufacturing, testing, and delivery capabilities. Once operational, it is expected to substantially increase production efficiency and capacity for the AE200 and future aircraft models.

AEROFUGIA’s latest milestone underscores China’s growing role in the global eVTOL industry and demonstrates steady progress in the country’s push toward sustainable, innovative urban air mobility.

by autonews.gasgoo