AutoFlight's 5-ton eVTOL seen as industry milestone

The rollout of AutoFlight's Matrix — the world's first 5 metric ton electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft — marks a milestone in China's low-altitude economy, said experts.

The Shanghai-based company unveiled Matrix on Feb 5, and performed a full transition flight demonstration at the company's low-altitude flight test facility center in Kunshan, Jiangsu province.

During the demonstration, the eVTOL completed the full mode transition flight sequence, transitioning from vertical takeoff through cruise flight to vertical landing.

The eVTOL achieved record breakthroughs — the world's first 5-ton class eVTOL, the largest eVTOL globally and the first 5-ton class eVTOL to successfully complete a conversion flight and basic performance.

These breakthroughs demonstrate that Chinese enterprises possess the global leadership capability in the cutting-edge technology of eVTOL, experts said.

Wang Peng, an associate research fellow at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, said that the launch of the world's first 5-ton class eVTOL marks a crucial stage in China's low-altitude economy, transitioning from "experimental exploration" to "industrial heavy-duty application".

Payload and range are crucial indicators for measuring efficiency and value. As the mainstream products currently focus on a takeoff weight of 1.5-3 tons and a passenger capacity of four to six people, the rollout of Matrix marks the first time the takeoff weight has been increased to the 5-ton range, propelling the development of heavy-duty aircraft.

"This breakthrough signifies the fundamental evolution of low-altitude aircraft — from lightweight consumer/experience-level products to regional transportation vehicles. At a time when the industry is generally in the verification phase for small and medium payloads, the achievement of a large takeoff weight demonstrates Chinese companies' edge in ultra-large-scale distributed power integration, complex aerodynamic layouts and high-strength lightweight structural design. The launch of Matrix is also expected to reconstruct the efficiency logic of low-altitude transportation by exploring the scale effect and broadening application scenarios," Wang said.

According to AutoFlight, Matrix features a 20-meter wingspan, 17.1-meter length and 3.3-meter height, with a maximum takeoff weight of 5.7 tons.

The aircraft will be available in passenger and cargo variants. The passenger version offers flexible seating configurations, accommodating either 10 business-class seats or six VIP seats. Standard amenities include premium seating, washbasins, lavatories, climate control, ambient lighting and oversized 1-square-meter windows with 50 percent enhanced light transmission.

The cargo version uses a hybrid power system, supporting a maximum payload of 1.5 tons, and features a large forward-opening door capable of accommodating two AKE standard air cargo containers, enhancing operational efficiency for ton-scale cargo transport, said the company.

Tian Yu, founder and CEO of AutoFlight, said: "Matrix will break the industry perception that eVTOL is 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."