This early mover in the eVTOL market could have a bright future.Joby Aviation (JOBY 2.57%), a developer of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, went public by merging with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) in 2021. Its stock opened at $10.62 on the first day, and it now trades at about $15.Joby's stock went through some wild swings, but it eventually impressed the market with its technological advantages against other eVTOL makers, its growing backlog, and the potential approva ...

Core Viewpoint - EHang's new eVTOL model, VT35, is designed for longer-distance travel and is priced at 6.5 million yuan, significantly higher than its predecessor EH216-S, which is priced at 2.39 million yuan. The VT35 aims to establish a commercial operational model for the eVTOL industry in China [1][7]. Group 1: Product Features and Specifications - The VT35 has a length of approximately 8 meters, a height of about 3 meters, and a wingspan of around 8 meters, capable of carrying two passengers with a maximum takeoff weight of 950 kilograms [5]. - The VT35 features a serial wing design with eight distributed lift propellers for vertical takeoff and landing, while the EH216-S uses a multi-rotor design with 16 propellers [5]. - The VT35 is expected to have a range of over 200 kilometers when fully loaded, allowing for intercity travel, such as from Shanghai to nearby cities like Hangzhou and Wuxi [6]. Group 2: Market Position and Pricing - The VT35 is priced at 6.5 million yuan, which is lower than similar eVTOLs available internationally, such as SkyDrive's SD-05 priced at approximately 10.71 million yuan [7]. - EHang's cost management strategies, including the use of existing production lines and shared components with the EH216 series, have helped stabilize production costs for the VT35 [8]. Group 3: Industry Context and Regulatory Environment - EHang is the only company with operational certification for eVTOLs in China, and its operations are being closely monitored by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) [1][17]. - The successful operation of EHang's eVTOLs is seen as a critical step in establishing industry standards and regulations, which will facilitate further development in the sector [17].