Autonomous flight for cargo transport -China
Autoflight, a Chinese aviation start-up company founded in 2017,specialises in electric vertical take-off and landing [eVTOL].The first 2-ton-class eVTOL autonomous flight transport trial was completed in Guizhou, a mountainous province in western China [April 17, 2026].
AutoFlight’s CarryAll (V2000CG) – a completely autonomous, unmanned eVTOL aircraft – was utilised in the trial to transport fresh spring tea between Anshun and Guiyang, two cities in Guizhou that are approximately 120km apart. The unmanned flight traversed the rugged mountain terrain in a mere 37 minutes, a substantial enhancement to the region’s road transportation.
The fresh tea was transported from Guiyang to Shanghai via high-speed rail for long-haul delivery, a distance of nearly 2,000 kilometres, following the eVTOL aviation transfer. The “eVTOL + high-speed rail” model facilitated same-day delivery, ensuring that consumers in major eastern cities could receive freshly harvested tea from isolated western mountain plantations within 24 hours.
The CarryAll (V2000CG) is the world’s first 2-ton-class eVTOL aircraft to receive the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) Type Certificate (TC), Production Certificate (PC), and Airworthiness Certificate (AC). It is a completely autonomous unmanned cargo aircraft that exhibits exceptional performance in a diverse array of logistics scenarios:
• The maximum payload is 400 kg.
• The maximum range is 200 kilometres.
• The cruise pace is approximately 180 km/h.
The Autonomous eVTOL Solution’s Primary Benefits include:
• Autonomous Flight Capability: The absence of an onboard pilot improves the safety and operational efficacy of cargo transport.
• High-Speed Performance: The 120km mountain crossing is completed in 37 minutes, resulting in a reduction of hours in transit time compared to traditional ground transport.
• Eco-friendly: Consistent with sustainable development objectives, zero operational emissions, and minimal disturbance are achieved through the use of all-electric power.
• High Flexibility: Vertical take-off and landing capability, no runway required for point-to-point direct delivery
Li Yun, Chief Commercial Officer of AutoFlight commented,”The ‘autonomous eVTOL air transfer + high-speed rail trunk line’ model is a groundbreaking solution that eliminates logistical bottlenecks in high-altitude mountainous regions. AutoFlight will collaborate with additional partners to expand this environmentally friendly autonomous cargo model to additional speciality agricultural production regions. This will facilitate the rapid delivery of a greater number of high-quality local agricultural products to national markets, thereby promoting the upgrading of regional industrial infrastructure and the revitalisation of rural areas.”
The commercialisation process of eVTOL has been advanced through the collaboration of global customers with AutoFlight’s cargo eVTOL models, which have conducted flight operations in real-world scenarios such as offshore oil platforms, intercity agricultural product transportation, and emergency fire-fighting. Furthermore, its 6-seat passenger eVTOL model, the V2000EM Prosperity, is presently in the Phase IV compliance verification stage of civil aviation airworthiness certification by the CAAC.
Picture Source: Autoflight