EHang Taps Insider Shuai Feng as CTO to Scale Air Taxi Operations

GUANGZHOU, China – January 16, 2026 – EHang Holdings, the global frontrunner in pilotless electric aircraft, has appointed founding team member Shuai Feng as its new Chief Technology Officer, a strategic move signaling the company’s pivotal transition from pioneering research and development to scaled commercialization. The appointment, effective January 14, formalizes a new chapter for the advanced air mobility (AAM) firm as it seeks to convert its world-first regulatory approvals into widespread operational reality.

The leadership change marks a deliberate evolution from the direct, hands-on technology oversight of Founder, Chairman, and CEO Mr. Huazhi Hu, who has personally steered the company’s technical vision since its inception. By elevating Mr. Feng, a long-term protégé, EHang aims to build a more systematic framework for innovation and industrial implementation, a crucial step as it prepares to mass-produce its certified EH216-S autonomous aerial vehicle.

From Founding Engineer to Technology Chief

Mr. Shuai Feng is no newcomer to EHang’s ambitious mission. Joining in July 2014 as a core member of the founding team, he has been an instrumental force behind the company’s most significant technological achievements. Under Mr. Hu's mentorship, Feng played a critical role in leading the development of the company's flagship pilotless human-carrying eVTOLs, including the early EH184 prototype, the now-certified EH216-S, and the longer-range VT35 model.

His deep involvement has been central to EHang's ability to pioneer commercial applications not only in pilotless AAM but also in the visually spectacular domain of aerial media performances using drone formations. This promotion is seen as a natural progression, ensuring the continuity of the core technical philosophy that has defined the company.

"Since the early days of the Company, Mr. Feng has worked closely under my direct leadership and has been deeply involved in the buildup of EHang’s technology system," stated Mr. Huazhi Hu. "As EHang enters a new phase of commercial operations and global expansion, appointing Mr. Feng as CTO is a further step to ensure continuity of our core technology strategy and talent development philosophy."

In his acceptance, Mr. Feng acknowledged his deep roots in the company's culture of innovation. "I have witnessed EHang’s journey from early innovation to commercial deployment under Mr. Hu’s technology-driven strategy, and have gained a deep understanding of the Company’s core technical philosophy and long-term vision," he commented. "I am committed to improving execution and production efficiency, further supporting the Company’s continued technology innovation and industrial implementation."

A Strategic Pivot to Mass Production

The timing of the CTO appointment is critical. Having secured the world's first type certificate, production certificate, and standard airworthiness certificate for a pilotless eVTOL from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), EHang's primary challenge has shifted from regulatory hurdles to industrial-scale execution. Mr. Feng’s background is uniquely suited for this next phase.

In recent years, he has taken on key responsibilities in building out EHang's procurement and supply chain management systems. This experience is vital as the company ramps up production at its Yunfu facility in Guangdong province, which currently has an annual capacity of 600 aircraft. An ongoing second-phase expansion is set to increase this capacity to 1,000 units by 2025, a necessary step to meet anticipated demand. Mr. Feng's new role will see him integrate the company's R&D efforts directly with its manufacturing and supply chain realities, a move designed to streamline productization and control costs.

This industrial focus is further supported by strategic partnerships with companies like JAC Motors for a manufacturing base in Hefei and collaborations on key components, such as next-generation electric motors and solid-state batteries, which recently enabled a test flight that extended the EH216-S's endurance by 90%.

Leading the Pilotless Revolution

EHang's progress places it in a unique position within the competitive global AAM market, which is projected to exceed $13 billion in 2026. While U.S.-based competitors like Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation are still targeting late 2025 for FAA certification of their piloted aircraft, EHang has already begun commercial operations with its pilotless EH216-S.

With an official price tag of RMB 2.39 million (approximately $330,000) in China, the company has launched commercial passenger-carrying flights for low-altitude tourism and sightseeing in designated zones in Guangzhou and Hefei. These initial operations, made possible by the first-ever Air Operator Certificates (AOCs) for human-carrying pilotless drones, serve as a crucial proof-of-concept for the company's broader vision of urban air mobility. In 2024, the company delivered 216 units of its EH216 series, a staggering 315% increase over the previous year, underscoring the accelerating transition from development to deployment.

While a first-mover, EHang faces the challenge of building public trust and demonstrating the safety and reliability of its autonomous technology on a large scale. Mr. Feng, who also serves as the company's Compliance Officer, will be central to navigating these challenges, ensuring that the company’s principles of "safety, compliance, innovation, and sustainability" are maintained as operations expand.

Navigating Market Realities and Investor Expectations

For investors, the CTO appointment is a signal of maturation. While EHang's stock (Nasdaq: EH) has experienced volatility, declining over 20% in the six months prior to the announcement, the company's financial fundamentals show signs of strengthening. EHang reported record annual revenue of over $62 million in 2024 and achieved its first-ever full-year adjusted net profit.

Although Q1 2025 revenues saw a dip, the company projects robust annual revenue of around RMB900 million (approximately $125 million) for 2025. The analyst consensus remains a "Strong Buy," with a price target suggesting significant upside, reflecting confidence in the company's long-term strategy. The appointment of an insider like Mr. Feng, who possesses an intimate knowledge of both the technology and the supply chain, is likely to be viewed as a de-risking move. It demonstrates a clear succession plan and a focus on disciplined execution, which are critical for translating regulatory wins and technological leads into sustainable financial performance.

By entrusting its technological future to a leader forged within its own ranks, EHang is betting on continuity and execution to cement its leadership in the nascent air mobility industry, aiming to make the futuristic vision of autonomous urban flight an everyday reality.