A historic first for Africa’s skies, Rwanda hosted a public flight of a self-flying electric air taxi. The ground-breaking demonstration took place during the 2025 Aviation Africa Summit & Exhibition in Kigali, on September 4. The initiative is a joint effort between the government of Rwanda and the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC). The Ministry of Infrastructure announced the development on September 3, noting that it marks a significant milestone in the continent’s adoption of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) technology. ALSO READ: PICTORIAL: Kagame graces launch of self-flying electric air taxi Here is what to know about the development: The aircraft: EHang EH216-S eVTOL, design and safety features The aircraft featured in the demonstration is the EH216-S, an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) model developed by EHang, a China-based urban air mobility technology company. EHang has partnered with CRBC to bring the EH216-S to Africa as part of its global market expansion strategy. The drone-like air taxi is fully autonomous and powered by electricity, making it a promising solution for urban air mobility, according to its developers. According to Tom Peng, the project manager overseeing the Rwanda flight project, the EH216-S is designed for two passengers, requiring no pilot. It is capable of flying 30 kilometres on a single full charge, with a flight time of around 25 minutes. ALSO READ: Africa's first self-flying air taxi to be launched in Kigali The firm uses its our own electric charging portal to power the aircraft and it takes around one and a half hour – 90 minutes – to get fully charged. Powered by 16 electric propellers under what is called a redundant system, Peng said that even in extreme situations, if half of the propellers fail, the aircraft can still fly. Priority on urban areas for now: Kigali in focus The EH216-S is not designed for long-distance flights. Instead, it targets urban routes. For instance, the air taxi services it offers started in some Chinese cities like Guangzhou. The aircraft’s 30 km range means it will be limited to intra-city travel, at least in the initial stages. Long-distance travel will require future models with fixed-wing capabilities. Peng said that, under the plans, emergency protocols and landing points route design prioritise safety, whereby each planned flight path will include emergency landing zones and avoid full battery depletion mid-flight. Another feature is that the unmanned aerial vehicle automatically returns to the departure point if there is a loss of signal or other technical issue. Flight cost and pricing: still to be determined The free on board (FOB) price of one EH216-S aircraft from China – which excludes shipment and insurance expenses, among other costs – is approximately $410,000 (approx. Rwf600 million) for one vehicle, according to EHang. However, the cost of a flight has not been finalised and will depend on local partners, operational costs and market realities. Typically, pricing is expected to be comparable to helicopter services, although exact figures may vary based on Rwanda’s regulatory environment and market conditions. “And the price also depends on how the consumers here can afford it,” said Rucheng Lu, Chief Engineer of EHang. Commercial applications and future plans in Africa According to Lu, Rwanda is the entry point for expansion into Africa. On that the implication of the self-flying air taxi launch, he said “that means we start our commercial operation in a new continent.” The company has plans to roll out its air mobility technology in Africa for tourism and sightseeing, cargo transport, surveillance, firefighting, agriculture, and aerial drone shows (featuring over 1,000 coordinated UAVs), such as to form intended shapes or images in different colours. Overall, he said that EHang has already delivered over 300 EH216-S aircraft (self-flying aircraft) globally within the last five years, recording over 70,000 safe flights and transporting over 30,000 passengers during that period. Regulatory readiness and partnerships as a prerequisite Although the technology is ready, EHang stated that commercial operations cannot begin immediately as there are steps ahead that should be followed. They include regulatory frameworks must be established by Rwanda’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and other African countries’ CAAs – where the service may be extended. “There are some things we need to do first, like regulations in Rwanda,” Lu said, underscoring the nature of the new service in the aviation industry. Also, he said that operational partnerships need to be secured, and commercial models must be defined and tested. He estimated that the service rollout can be expected in three to six months, depending on how efficiently the regulatory and operational teams work. He said that the firm needs to find partners in the country, commercial operation models that include sound business cases, development of clear aviation policies for autonomous aircraft for passenger transport. The Minister of Infrastructure, Jimmy Gasore, was quoted as saying in a statement that announced the inaugural self-flying air taxi launch that Rwanda’s partnership with China Road and Bridge Corporation provides a strong foundation to bring in new technologies and expertise. “By collaborating on this historic flight, we are not only showcasing the future of aviation but also demonstrating our dedication to fostering a safe, progressive regulatory environment for advanced air mobility, he observed.
