Beijing to promote drones and flying cars via new safety department

[Photo: Xinhua]

China is accelerating its ambitions in the “low-altitude economy” with the creation of a dedicated aviation safety department to oversee drones and flying cars, according to reporting by Nikkei Asia.

The new unit, established under the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), will focus on managing safety, infrastructure and development for aircraft operating below 1,000 meters. Former CAAC chief Li Jiaxiang disclosed the move during a lecture earlier this month, marking one of the rare occasions China has created a dedicated government department for an emerging industry.

As reported by Nikkei Asia, the roughly 30-member department will formulate development plans, supervise low-altitude flight safety and build dispatch platforms for increasingly crowded urban airspace. Previously, low-altitude flight management had been handled through temporary structures.

The initiative reflects Beijing’s broader push to dominate next-generation aviation technologies. China’s latest five-year economic plan, approved in March, specifically calls for faster development of the low-altitude economy, including infrastructure construction, innovation ecosystems and large-scale commercial applications.

According to projections cited by Nikkei Asia, the sector’s market size could more than double to exceed 3.5 trillion yuan (US$515 billion) by 2035.

A major focus is electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, or eVTOLs — often described as flying cars. Several Chinese companies are already seeking airworthiness certification from the CAAC as the technology edges closer to commercial viability.

Chinese drone maker EHang became the country’s first company to obtain operating licenses for a commercial two-seat eVTOL in 2025. Nikkei Asia reported that the firm plans to launch commercial flights in provinces such as Guangdong or Anhui before the end of the year.

Authorities envision eVTOLs functioning similarly to air taxis, especially for tourism and short-distance urban transport. But large-scale adoption will require new aviation standards, dedicated boarding facilities and carefully regulated flight corridors — areas the new department is expected to oversee.

China’s push comes amid growing international competition. The United States recently selected eight pilot projects for eVTOL testing, while Japan aims to commercialize the technology in select regions by 2027 or 2028 through public-private partnerships.

Chinese manufacturers, however, are already conducting overseas test flights in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, aiming to secure an early lead in what could become a fiercely competitive global flying-car market. Times Reporter