EHang eyes Mexico tourism market with pilotless eVTOL flights
Chinese autonomous aircraft maker EHang conducted what it describes as the first people-carrying pilotless eVTOL flights in Mexico and Latin America at an aerospace exhibition in Tulum.
By Nicole Suárez, Carbon Free Aviation Journalist
5 May 2026
Chinese autonomous aviation company EHang has completed the first people-carrying demonstration flights of its EH216-S pilotless electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL) in Mexico, marking the first crewed flight of a pilotless eVTOL in both the country and Latin America, said the company.
The demonstration flights took place at Feria Aeroespacial México (FAMEX) Tulum Air Show 2026 at Tulum International Airport on May 1, operated by EHang’s local partner, Air Mobility. The milestone is intended to support the broader deployment of advanced air mobility services across the region, particularly in tourism and airport shuttle operations.
The EH216-S is a two-seat, fully electric aircraft that operates without an onboard pilot, relying instead on autonomous flight systems and remote ground monitoring.
During the demonstration, the aircraft showed operational flexibility in an airport environment and highlighted potential use cases such as aerial tourism flights over destinations like Tulum, as well as airport-to-city and airport-to-resort transfers, services that could help respond to rising demand for efficient, lower-emission mobility options in major tourism hubs, according to eHang.
The flights built on earlier EH216-S operations conducted in Mexico in 2025, which were enabled by a Special Airworthiness Certificate for Unmanned Aircraft Systems granted by Mexico’s civil aviation authority, the AFAC.
That approval helped establish an operational framework involving regulators, Air Mobility as the local operator, and EHang as the aircraft manufacturer, covering areas including concept of operations, operational risk assessment, crew training and licensing, aircraft registration, and aviation insurance requirements.
Among those who flew aboard the aircraft was Cristina Lara, who became the first woman in Mexico and Latin America to fly aboard a pilotless eVTOL aircraft. Lara described the demonstration as a “defining milestone” for both the company and the region, saying it showed how close advanced air mobility is to practical implementation.
Image: eHang | Cristina Lara aboard the EH216-S.
Victoria Jing Xiang, EHang’s chief operating officer for Europe and Latin America, said the flights demonstrated the “maturity, safety, and operational readiness” of the company’s technology, and described Mexico as a “forward-thinking and strategic market” for advanced air mobility. She added that the milestone represented a further step toward certification and commercialization of the EH216-S in Mexico.
EHang holds the world’s first type certificate, production certificate, and standard airworthiness certificate for a pilotless eVTOL, all issued by China’s Civil Aviation Administration. The company is working with Air Mobility and Mexican authorities toward eventual commercial passenger operations in the country.
Mexico is among the markets EHang considers promising for advanced air mobility, citing high-demand tourism corridors, congested urban environments, and what it described as early regulatory advancements enabling unmanned aircraft operations.
No timeline or pricing details for commercial services in Mexico were disclosed. The company said it would continue working with local partners and regulators toward that objective.
