UAE Company Orders $1 Billion in Chinese eVTOL Aircraft

Shanghai TCab Technology Co., Ltd., a Chinese electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) manufacturer, and Autocraft, a company from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), finalized a memorandum of understanding (MoU). The agreement involves Autocraft purchasing 350 E20 eVTOL aircraft, with a total value of 1 billion U.S. dollars. This represents the largest single intent order for eVTOLs in China to date.

This deal is a significant milestone for TCab Tech, a company established in 2021. It allows the company to position its E20 eVTOL aircraft for various commercial applications, including low-altitude tourism and urban air mobility, throughout the Middle East and North Africa. The collaboration builds upon a partnership initiated at the China International Import Expo held the previous year. It combines TCab Tech's expertise in eVTOL development and manufacturing with Autocraft's operational strengths and market access within the UAE.

The E20, TCab Tech's flagship model, is a five-seat tilt-rotor eVTOL. It features a 12-meter wingspan, a designed range of 200 kilometers, and a top speed of 320 kilometers per hour. Designed for both intercity and urban applications, such as tourism, commuting, and patrol, the aircraft can accommodate one pilot and four passengers.

Autocraft highlighted TCab Tech's technological maturity and focus on safety as key factors in the partnership. TCab Tech views this agreement as a "key breakthrough" for its international expansion. Yon Wui NG, the founder and CEO of TCab Tech, and former chief engineer of Airbus China, stated that the global market is showing strong confidence in China's aviation technology. The Shanghai-based eVTOL company specializes in tilt-rotor passenger aircraft and has overseas subsidiaries in Singapore and Malaysia.

During the MoU signing ceremony, technical discussions took place between TCab Tech's technical team and representatives from the UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority. These discussions focused on exploring pathways for airworthiness certification, operational regulations, and regulatory coordination mechanisms for the E20 eVTOL.

Tareq Alahmed, vice president of Autocraft, which is a subsidiary of UAE's leading tech company Kintsugi, noted that Autocraft has been actively seeking international partners with advanced technology and strong delivery capabilities. The first batch of orders is scheduled for delivery after the airworthiness certificate is obtained from the Civil Aviation Administration of China.