AutoFlight has completed China's first 2-ton-class eVTOL dedicated spring tea transport trial in Guizhou, a mountainous province in western China. The trial used the CarryAll (V2000CG), a fully autonomous unmanned eVTOL aircraft, to carry fresh spring tea between Anshun and Guiyang—cities roughly 120 km apart—crossing rugged terrain in just 37 minutes. This significantly reduces transit time compared to road transport on winding mountain routes.
Key takeaways
- Autonomous flight: no onboard pilot, enhancing safety and operational efficiency for cargo transport.
- Speed: 120 km mountain crossing in 37 minutes, cutting hours off traditional ground transport.
- Integrated model: eVTOL air transfer plus high-speed rail trunk line enabled same-day delivery from remote plantations to Shanghai (nearly 2,000 km away) within 24 hours.
- Eco-friendly: all-electric, zero operational emissions, low noise.
- Flexibility: vertical take-off and landing, no runway required.
The CarryAll (V2000CG) is the world's first 2-ton-class eVTOL to obtain Type Certificate, Production Certificate, and Airworthiness Certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). It offers a maximum payload of 400 kg, a range of up to 200 km, and a cruise speed of about 180 km/h, making it suitable for urban logistics, emergency material delivery, agricultural cold chain, and remote area cargo services. AutoFlight's cargo eVTOLs have also operated in real-world scenarios including offshore oil platforms and firefighting. Its 6-seat passenger eVTOL, the V2000EM Prosperity, is in Phase IV compliance verification with CAAC.
Source: Robotics & Automation News (roboticsandautomationnews.com) · Published 2026-04-24 · “AutoFlight completes first 2-ton-class eVTOL tea delivery in China”