EHang Elevates Founding Member to CTO to Drive Commercialization Phase
Appointment of Shuai Feng signals a strategic pivot from certification to global commercial rollout for the Urban Air Mobility pioneer.
EHang Holdings Ltd. (NASDAQ: EH), a frontrunner in the autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV) industry, has appointed founding team member Shuai Feng as its new Chief Technology Officer. The move is a clear signal of the company's strategic transition from a period of intense research and regulatory approvals to a new era focused on scaling production, global commercialization, and deepening its technological ecosystem.
The appointment aims to harness the momentum from EHang's recent string of landmark regulatory successes. Shares of the company were trading around $14.71 in afternoon trading. While the immediate market reaction was muted, the strategic importance of the hire underscores the company's long-term ambitions in the nascent Urban Air Mobility (UAM) sector.
A Veteran Hand at the Tech Helm
Mr. Feng is no newcomer to EHang's mission. As a core member of the company since its early days in July 2014, he has been a central figure in the development of its flagship pilotless electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. His leadership was instrumental in the creation of the EH216-S, the aircraft that achieved the world's first type certificate for a passenger-carrying pilotless eVTOL from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).
A graduate of the prestigious Tsinghua University with a specialization in UAV technology, Feng's expertise was also critical in establishing EHang's procurement and supply chain management systems—a crucial foundation for the company's current push towards mass production. In addition to his new role, he will continue to serve as the company's Compliance Officer.
From Regulatory Hurdles to Commercial Highways
The timing of the new CTO appointment is critical. EHang has spent the last few years methodically clearing the complex regulatory pathways required to make urban air taxis a reality. This culminated in achieving a 'regulatory hat-trick' in China: securing the Type Certificate (TC) in October 2023, a Production Certificate (PC) in July 2024, and finally, the pivotal Air Operator Certificates (AOC) in March 2025.
The AOC granted EHang the final approval necessary to begin commercial, passenger-carrying operations. The company wasted no time, launching the world's first commercial UAM services in the Chinese megacities of Guangzhou and Hefei.
Global Ambitions Take Flight
With a commercial framework established in its home market, EHang has accelerated its global expansion efforts. In recent months, the company has conducted a series of high-profile international demonstrations. In November 2025, it performed its inaugural urban passenger flight in Thailand and began commercial trials in Saudi Arabia, with plans to introduce passenger operations across 22 airports.
Further demonstrations included the first urban pilotless eVTOL flights in the Middle East in Doha, Qatar, and Europe's first multi-point urban flights in Zaragoza, Spain, in December 2025. These trials showcase the technology's readiness for diverse applications, from tourism to emergency response, and lay the groundwork for future international sales.
The Path Forward: Synergy and Scale
Mr. Feng's mandate will be to deepen "technological innovation and industrial synergy," according to the company's announcement. This involves not only advancing EHang's AAV technology, as seen with the recent unveiling of its longer-range VT35 model, but also optimizing the entire production and operational ecosystem to support a global fleet.
This appointment is a bet on vertically integrated expertise. By promoting a leader who has overseen everything from initial R&D and certification to supply chain development, EHang aims to create a seamless pipeline from factory floor to urban sky.
While the stock is currently trading well below its 52-week high of $29.76, Wall Street's consensus analyst price target of $22.58 suggests a strong belief in the company's long-term trajectory. Investors will be watching closely to see how the new technology leadership executes on its ambitious promise to build and scale the future of urban transportation.