Low-altitude economy exhibition zone shines at Hainan Expo, drawing global investors
At the 5th China International Consumer Products Expo held in South China's Hainan Province, a dedicated low-altitude economy exhibition zone made its debut, showcasing cutting-edge flying vehicles.
The display drew strong interest from domestic and international visitors, highlighting the sector's growing role in consumption upgrades, tourism integration, and the sector's ambition to go global.
A lineup of China's low-altitude companies exhibited their latest air mobility prototypes at the Expo, including passenger drones, eVTOL aircraft, and hybrid aircraft-car models. Though each company is pursuing a distinct technical route, all are advancing toward real-world applications — from cargo transport and sightseeing flights to urban short-distance commutes.
EHang, a frequent exhibitor to the show, expanded its lineup by introducing a firefighting variant of its pilotless aircraft, in addition to passenger and logistics models. The company also marked a major milestone in late March, as its EH216-S received China's air operator certificate—becoming the world's first eVTOL with full regulatory approval for commercial operation.
EHang is actively exploring the global market, having conducted test flights in 20 countries and established a European office to support certification and local compliance efforts.
Zhang Yi, CEO of iiMedia Research Institute, told the Global Times that as a strategic emerging sector, the low-altitude economy is set to reshape transportation and tourism. In regions like Hainan, with rich tourism resources and supportive policies, it is expected to scale quickly and drive growth across the manufacturing, services, and data industries.
Zhang said that against the backdrop of US-led trade and tariff tensions, this year's expo has drawn greater global attention to China's vast 1.4 billion-strong consumer market. He noted that international businesses attending the event in Hainan see both strong expectations and real opportunities in tapping into China's high-level consumption potential.
Meanwhile, other Chinese eVTOL developers are showcasing aircraft with enhanced payload capacity and extended endurance. Sunny Sun, senior vice president of Autoflight Group, mentionedthat the company brought its 2-ton eVTOL to the expo for the first time, aiming to demonstrate point-to-point transport capabilities for cargo and passengers. She said Hainan's unique geography and policy support make it a natural testing ground, though challenges remain in airspace access, and infrastructure facilities.
Sun stated Autoflight's cargo eVTOL is the world's first in its weight class to receive both type and production certificates from the Civil Aviation Administration of China, with commercial deliveries anticipated this year.
"Trial flights have taken place in cities like Guilin and Zhuhai," Xin said. "With prices lower than helicopter tours, we're targeting the tourism market while testing commercial applications like aerial advertising , livestreaming, and event promotions."
Amer Taha, a buyer from Saudi Arabia, told the Global Times he runs an import-export business focused on bringing Chinese tech products to the Middle East. This time, he was seeking to purchaseunmanned aerial vehicles, calling them "some of the most advanced and cost-effective technologies China offers."
"These drones are rarely seen in the Middle East," he said, noting their versatility—from cargo transport and tourism to private use. He praised Chinese drones as "among the most advanced and durable in the world," adding that "China's manufacturing is a global benchmark."
Autoflight Senior Vice President, Sun told the Global Times that visitors from countries including the Czech Republic and the Middle East showed strong interest after learning the display model was a functioning aircraft. "Many left their contact details and arranged visits to our test flight site for further discussions on potential cooperation," she said.
"China's low-altitude economy is advancing rapidly—if problems arise, they get solved quickly, unlike in some countries where things may move very slowly," Jeremy Grinan, a photographer from France, told the Global Times. "Seeing these drones feels like seeing science fiction come to life in China."
The 2025 Government Work Report of the State Council notes that China will foster emerging industries and industries of the future including "promoting safe and sound development of commercial space, the low-altitude economy, and other emerging industries." In March, China released a special action plan to boost domestic consumption, which called for "accelerating the development of a regulatory framework for the low-altitude economy and promoting the orderly growth of low-altitude tourism, aerial sports, and consumer-grade drones."
The display drew strong interest from domestic and international visitors, highlighting the sector's growing role in consumption upgrades, tourism integration, and the sector's ambition to go global.
A lineup of China's low-altitude companies exhibited their latest air mobility prototypes at the Expo, including passenger drones, eVTOL aircraft, and hybrid aircraft-car models. Though each company is pursuing a distinct technical route, all are advancing toward real-world applications — from cargo transport and sightseeing flights to urban short-distance commutes.
EHang, a frequent exhibitor to the show, expanded its lineup by introducing a firefighting variant of its pilotless aircraft, in addition to passenger and logistics models. The company also marked a major milestone in late March, as its EH216-S received China's air operator certificate—becoming the world's first eVTOL with full regulatory approval for commercial operation.
The EH216-F eVTOL from Ehang on display at the 2025 China International Consumer Products Expo on April 13, 2025. Photo: Zhang Yiyi/GT
EHang COO Wang Zhao noted that the EH216-S has officially entered commercial operation. "EH216-S is designed with 16 rotors and can remain stable even if up to five fail, whether due to detachment or malfunction. This design ensures it a clear safety advantage over traditional helicopters." By developing use cases such as scenic flights, the company aims to integrate autonomous flying into everyday life.EHang is actively exploring the global market, having conducted test flights in 20 countries and established a European office to support certification and local compliance efforts.
Zhang Yi, CEO of iiMedia Research Institute, told the Global Times that as a strategic emerging sector, the low-altitude economy is set to reshape transportation and tourism. In regions like Hainan, with rich tourism resources and supportive policies, it is expected to scale quickly and drive growth across the manufacturing, services, and data industries.
Zhang said that against the backdrop of US-led trade and tariff tensions, this year's expo has drawn greater global attention to China's vast 1.4 billion-strong consumer market. He noted that international businesses attending the event in Hainan see both strong expectations and real opportunities in tapping into China's high-level consumption potential.
Meanwhile, other Chinese eVTOL developers are showcasing aircraft with enhanced payload capacity and extended endurance. Sunny Sun, senior vice president of Autoflight Group, mentionedthat the company brought its 2-ton eVTOL to the expo for the first time, aiming to demonstrate point-to-point transport capabilities for cargo and passengers. She said Hainan's unique geography and policy support make it a natural testing ground, though challenges remain in airspace access, and infrastructure facilities.
Sun stated Autoflight's cargo eVTOL is the world's first in its weight class to receive both type and production certificates from the Civil Aviation Administration of China, with commercial deliveries anticipated this year.
A two-ton-class eVTOL from Autoflight Group on display at the 2025 China International Consumer Products Expo on April 13, 2025. Photo: Zhang Yiyi/GT
As China's low-altitude economy expands, companies are introducing new aerial platforms beyond rotor-based eVTOLs. Xin Guozhong, a deputy manager from a domestic airship developer Shenzhen Yingzhao Airlines Co told the Global Times the company introduced a 50-meter piloted airship for low-speed, low-altitude tourism. Its triple-layer inert gas envelope boosts safety, allowing it to stay aloft for up to two hours after engine failure—ideal for altitudes between 300 and 3,000 meters."Trial flights have taken place in cities like Guilin and Zhuhai," Xin said. "With prices lower than helicopter tours, we're targeting the tourism market while testing commercial applications like aerial advertising , livestreaming, and event promotions."
Amer Taha, a buyer from Saudi Arabia, told the Global Times he runs an import-export business focused on bringing Chinese tech products to the Middle East. This time, he was seeking to purchaseunmanned aerial vehicles, calling them "some of the most advanced and cost-effective technologies China offers."
"These drones are rarely seen in the Middle East," he said, noting their versatility—from cargo transport and tourism to private use. He praised Chinese drones as "among the most advanced and durable in the world," adding that "China's manufacturing is a global benchmark."
Autoflight Senior Vice President, Sun told the Global Times that visitors from countries including the Czech Republic and the Middle East showed strong interest after learning the display model was a functioning aircraft. "Many left their contact details and arranged visits to our test flight site for further discussions on potential cooperation," she said.
"China's low-altitude economy is advancing rapidly—if problems arise, they get solved quickly, unlike in some countries where things may move very slowly," Jeremy Grinan, a photographer from France, told the Global Times. "Seeing these drones feels like seeing science fiction come to life in China."
The 2025 Government Work Report of the State Council notes that China will foster emerging industries and industries of the future including "promoting safe and sound development of commercial space, the low-altitude economy, and other emerging industries." In March, China released a special action plan to boost domestic consumption, which called for "accelerating the development of a regulatory framework for the low-altitude economy and promoting the orderly growth of low-altitude tourism, aerial sports, and consumer-grade drones."
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