AutoFlight unveils large aerial taxi for cargo transport or ten passengers
The AutoFlight Matrix has been unveiled as the world’s first eVTOL in the 5-tonne class to complete a public flight demonstration involving a mode transition—from vertical take-off to cruise flight and back to vertical landing. ‘eVTOL’ stands for ‘electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft’, referring to an electrically powered aircraft that does not require a runway, as it can take off and land vertically.
The Matrix has a wingspan of 20 metres, a length of 17.1 metres, and a height of 3.3 metres, with a maximum take-off weight of 5,700 kg. It will be available in passenger and cargo variants. According to AutoFlight, the passenger version offers flexible seating configurations, accommodating either ten business-class seats or six VIP seats. The battery-electric version provides a maximum range of 250 kilometres.
The cargo version, however, uses a hybrid propulsion system, which is expected to achieve a range of 1,500 kilometres. It has a maximum payload of 1,500 kg and features a large, forward-opening door designed to accommodate two AKE-standard air freight containers, improving operational efficiency for transporting tonne-scale cargo.
Tian Yu, CEO and founder of AutoFlight, stated: “Matrix is not only a rising star in the aviation industry but also an ambitious industry disruptor. It will break the industry perception that eVTOL = short-haul, low-load, and will reshape the rules of eVTOL routes. Through economies of scale, it significantly reduces transportation costs per seat-kilometer and ton-kilometer, revolutionizing costs and embracing profitability. It covers all scenarios from urban commuting to intercity feeder routes, driving the expansion of the entire low-altitude ecosystem.”
In 2021, German venture capital firm Team Global, founded by Spreadshirt’s Lukasz Gadowski, invested 100 million US dollars in AutoFlight and facilitated the establishment of a research and development centre in Augsburg, which remains operational today. In spring 2024, the Shanghai-based company announced the first delivery of its five-seat eVTOL Prosperity to a customer in Japan. Shortly afterwards, AutoFlight secured a prominent investor in CATL, the global leader in battery production, which pledged a triple-digit million-dollar investment. Last November, the two partners unveiled a vertiport on a ship to enable the deployment of electric air taxis beyond land-based locations.
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