by XUE Bingbing

TCab Tech, a leading Chinese developer of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, has signed a purchase agreement with UAE-based Autocraft for 350 E20 aircraft, potentially worth up to US$1 billion (around 7.1 billion yuan), the company told Jiemian News on July 16. The deal is the largest of its kind for a Chinese eVTOL maker, far surpassing the previous domestic record of 3.5 billion yuan set earlier this year.

Deliveries will be phased and begin once the E20 secures airworthiness certification from China's Civil Aviation Administration. On the day of signing, TCab Tech also met with the UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority to discuss certification pathways and regulatory alignment.

Founded in 2021, TCab Tech is China's first homegrown eVTOL manufacturer focused on tiltrotor designs. Its flagship model, the E20, is a five-seat aircraft with a range of 200 kilometers, cruise speed of 320 km/h, and payload capacity of 450 kilograms. It is designed for both urban and intercity mobility.

The UAE agreement follows a strategic partnership signed at the 2024 China International Import Expo. It marks a milestone in Sino-Arab tech cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.

"Our first major overseas deal coming from the UAE shows strong alignment between our product and the country's goals," TCab Tech founder and CEO Yon Wui NG told Jiemian News.

He cited Dubai's traffic congestion, openness to autonomous transport, and the inclusion of eVTOLs in its "Smart and Autonomous Mobility Strategy 2030," which targets 25 percent autonomous travel by the end of the decade.

TAN Chaochen, vice-chairman of the Shenzhen Aviation Industry Association, told Jiemian News the UAE is well suited for early eVTOL adoption, with premium tourism routes and high-income users. He estimated a single E20 could generate US$3 million in annual revenue. The harsh desert climate would also serve as a proving ground for global certification.

NG stressed that "a big order is one thing. Delivering on it is everything." Success, he said, depends on TCab Tech's global delivery strategy, regulatory alignment, and customer support.

The E20 is now in the compliance verification stage with East China's aviation authority. Certification and mass production are expected by 2027.

China's low-altitude economy is booming, and local eVTOL makers are eyeing global growth. EHang signed a deal to supply up to 100 aircraft to Wings Logistics Hub, and AutoFlight completed test flights in Abu Dhabi and Japan in 2024. But TCab Tech's deal is the largest and most ambitious overseas commitment yet.

NG said the UAE deal reflects TCab Tech's broader ambitions to compete globally. The company aims to expand in regions like the Middle East and North Africa, pursue cross-border certification, and test its aircraft in multiple markets as regulatory conditions mature.