Aerial taxi from China soars over African skies as companies plan worldwide release

Electric air taxi, manufactured in China, successfully executes inaugural test flight in Rwanda, signifying the swift global expansion of Chinese aviation companies.

, and Administrator

2025 September 15 . 1:32 PM

1 min read

Flying taxi from China ascends in Africa, as businesses plan worldwide deployment

Aerial taxi from China soars over African skies as companies plan worldwide release

Rwanda, a landlocked nation with a population of 14.2 million, took a significant step forward in its air transport development this week. The first test flight of an automated electric air taxi, the EHang EH216-S, was successfully conducted in Kigali, Rwanda, during the Aviation Africa Summit and Exhibition 2025.

The event, a major industry gathering involving 34 countries, served as the platform for this groundbreaking moment. The test flight was arranged in partnership between Rwanda and China Road and Bridge Corporation, a Chinese state-owned construction and engineering firm.

According to African media reports, Rwanda is seeking investment and technology partners to elevate its air mobility sector. The Rwandan government's focus on air transport development is based on a growing tourism sector and an aim to address urban congestion and air pollution.

The test flight was reported by the state-run Xinhua News Agency on Thursday. The report was based on information from the Rwandan government. The partnership aims to position Rwanda at the forefront of implementing advanced aviation technology, as stated on the Rwanda Heart of Africa promotional Facebook page.

EHang Holdings, a Chinese company, is the developer of the EH216-S, the first self-flying air taxi in Africa. The successful test flight marks a new generation of Chinese low-altitude aircraft attracting global interest.

While the exact nature of the air mobility sector that Rwanda is seeking to elevate was not specified, it is clear that this test flight is a significant step towards modernising and improving air transport in the region. The Aviation Africa Summit and Exhibition, while not directly mentioned as a platform for seeking investment or technology partners, provided an ideal setting for such collaborations.