AutoFlight: The China-Germany eVTOL Powerhouse Bridging Innovation Across Continents
While the race for electric air mobility heats up, AutoFlight is carving a unique flight path—combining Chinese manufacturing strength with German engineering precision. With headquarters in Shanghai and a major R&D center in Augsburg, Germany, AutoFlight is building autonomous, long-range eVTOL aircraft designed for real-world logistics and regional air travel.
From record-breaking test flights to multimillion-dollar deals, AutoFlight is quickly emerging as one of the most globally balanced and operationally advanced players in the space.
The Founder: Tian Yu — A Serial Innovator with Aviation in His DNA
Tian Yu, the visionary founder of AutoFlight, is no stranger to electric aviation. Prior to launching AutoFlight, he founded Yuneec, a major player in consumer drones and electric aircraft. His work on the e430—a two-seater electric airplane—laid the groundwork for a much more ambitious goal: building autonomous eVTOL aircraft at scale.
With AutoFlight, Tian combines AI-driven autonomy, hybrid lift & cruise architecture, and a global team of aerospace experts, including former Airbus and Rolls-Royce executives, to deliver a fleet of future-ready aircraft.
The Tech: Prosperity I — The Sleek Regional eVTOL Setting Records
AutoFlight’s flagship passenger aircraft is Prosperity I, an elegant lift+cruise eVTOL designed for inter-city and regional flights—not just short urban hops.
Prosperity I Specs at a Glance:
Seats: 1 pilot + 3 passengers (eventually fully autonomous)
Top Speed: ~200 km/h (124 mph)
Range: ~250 km (155 miles)
Propulsion: 10 lift rotors + 1 pusher propeller
Design: Fixed-wing for efficient cruise; VTOL-capable for flexible takeoff/landing
Autonomy: Under development for full pilotless flight with remote oversight
In 2023, Prosperity I set a new world record for longest eVTOL flight, flying 250.3 km on a single charge—proving its real-world endurance and marking a major milestone in electric aviation.
AutoFlight is also developing heavy-lift cargo drones and autonomous airfreight systems under the same platform architecture.
Mission: Long Range. High Safety. Global Accessibility.
AutoFlight is built around a few key principles:
Regional Reach: Designed for 30–60 minute inter-city routes across major metropolitan zones
Hybrid Design: Combining helicopter-style takeoff with airplane-level cruise efficiency
Safety at Scale: Triple-redundant flight control systems, proven flight test data, and rigorous European certification goals
Affordability: Manufacturing expertise in China enables competitive pricing for global markets
Autonomy Roadmap: From pilot-assisted to fully autonomous aircraft across cargo and passenger use cases
Their ultimate goal: make autonomous regional air mobility affordable and real for everyone—from logistics companies to daily commuters.
Global Collaborations & European Expansion
AutoFlight Europe GmbH (Augsburg, Germany): Led by former Airbus Helicopters head Mark Henning, focusing on EASA certification and European test flights
Partnership with EVFLY (2023): Order of 205 Prosperity aircraft for air taxi services in the Middle East and Southeast Asia
Saudi UAM Plans: MoU signed with the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) to bring air taxi services to cities like Riyadh and Jeddah
Successful Test Flights in Europe and China: Includes automated flight transitions, cruise stability, and end-to-end logistics missions
Why Ceekers Should Watch AutoFlight
For Ceekers—tech futurists, immersive experience creators, and infrastructure designers—AutoFlight is more than aircraft:
Global by Design: Merges Chinese scalability with German aerospace heritage
Inter-City Commuting: Ideal for connecting smart campuses, metaverse events, and digital nomad hubs
Autonomous Supply Chain Innovation: AutoFlight’s cargo drones could enable Web3-native logistics, decentralized delivery networks, and on-demand fulfillment
Experience Meets Efficiency: Quiet, sleek, long-range travel that fits seamlessly into green cityscapes
Looking to the Horizon
AutoFlight is not just an air taxi company—it’s a full-stack regional mobility platform, capable of connecting cities with fast, silent, and sustainable flight.
With certification efforts ramping up, growing global partnerships, and aircraft already breaking records, AutoFlight is one of the most underrated giants in the skies. Don’t blink—this one is already airborne.
