EHang this week issued what it described as a “suggested” retail price for its EH216-S eVTOL aircraft. The Chinese manufacturer announced on February 1 that from April 1 the two-passenger, autonomous vehicle will be priced at RMB2.39 million ($334,000).
Very few other eVTOL manufacturers have published confirmed pricing for their aircraft. However, indicative pricing based on announced sales agreements with operators, suggests that Western-made models are priced in millions rather than hundreds of thousands of dollars. The closest equivalent aircraft is probably Volocopter's two-seat VoloCity for which pricing has not yet been announced.
In late 2022, Germany’s Lilium said that its Lilium Jet will cost between $7 million and $10 million, depending on the specifications selected by customers. By contrast, Pivotal has priced its Helix single-seat personal eVTOL, which is not being certified for commercial operations, at just $190,000.
In October, rival Chinese eVTOL manufacturer TCabTech indicated it expects its four-passenger E20 model to be priced at just under $1 million. Also in China, AutoFlight is developing the four-passenger Prosperity I aircraft, for which pricing has not yet been confirmed. However, at the Paris Air Show in June 2023, the company's main financial backer Lukasz Gadowski told reporters it will likely sell for beetween $1.5 million and $2 million.
By comparison, Robinson’s U.S.-made R22 two-seat helicopter is priced at around $318,000, while the Cabri G2 made in France costs $408,000. Popular Western general aviation fixed wing aircraft, like the Cessna 172 and Piper 100i cost between around $300,000 and $400,000 new.
In mid-October 2023, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) issued a type certificate for the EH216-S, making it the first eVTOL aircraft in the world to achieve this approval. Since then, EHang has been working to secure the production certificate it needs to conduct high-volume series manufacturing.
In late December, the CAAC issued an airworthiness certificate (AC) for the EH216 allowing it to deliver an aircraft to Chinese technology group Eton. Under the CAAC process, the AC supplements the type certificate allowing some aircraft to be assembled and delivered before the company has secured its full production certificate. China’s air safety agency has also allowed EHang and partners to operate the aircraft on a limited basis in certain specific locations.
According to EHang, the announced pricing, “will more effectively cater to the market needs and further enhance the value of electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft and urban air mobility.”
