Autonomous air mobility meets high-speed rail to enable 24-Hour farm-to-city supply chains
In a breakthrough for next-generation logistics, AutoFlight has successfully completed China’s first 2-ton-class electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) transport trial dedicated to fresh tea delivery, marking a pivotal step toward integrating autonomous aviation into agricultural supply chains. The milestone operation, conducted in Guizhou province, demonstrated how advanced air mobility solutions can overcome geographic constraints and dramatically compress delivery timelines for high-value perishables.
The trial utilized AutoFlight’s CarryAll (V2000CG), a fully autonomous unmanned cargo eVTOL aircraft, to transport freshly harvested spring tea across a 120-kilometer mountainous route between Anshun and Guiyang in just 37 minutes. The flight, which traversed rugged terrain that typically slows conventional transport, showcased a significant leap in efficiency compared to traditional road-based logistics.
Building on this aerial leg, the shipment was seamlessly integrated into China’s high-speed rail network for long-haul distribution, covering nearly 2,000 kilometers from Guiyang to Shanghai. This hybrid “eVTOL + high-speed rail” logistics model enabled same-day dispatch and delivery within 24 hours—bringing premium tea from remote western plantations to urban consumers in record time.
At the core of this innovation is the CarryAll (V2000CG), the world’s first 2-ton-class eVTOL cargo aircraft to secure Type, Production, and Airworthiness Certification from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). Designed for autonomous operations without an onboard pilot, the aircraft offers a payload capacity of up to 400 kilograms, a flight range of 200 kilometers, and a cruising speed of approximately 180 km/h. Its vertical take-off and landing capability eliminates the need for runways, enabling direct, point-to-point connectivity even in hard-to-access regions.
Beyond speed and flexibility, the platform underscores a shift toward sustainable logistics. Fully electric and low-noise, the eVTOL solution aligns with global decarbonization goals while offering a scalable alternative to conventional transport in environmentally sensitive areas.
The successful deployment also highlights the growing maturity of eVTOL technology in real-world applications. AutoFlight’s cargo models have already been tested across diverse scenarios, including offshore logistics, intercity cargo transport, and emergency response operations. Meanwhile, its six-seat passenger variant, the V2000EM Prosperity, is advancing through civil aviation certification, signaling broader ambitions in urban and regional air mobility.
As global supply chains seek faster, greener, and more resilient solutions, AutoFlight’s integrated model points to a future where autonomous aviation and multimodal transport systems converge—unlocking new economic opportunities for remote agricultural regions while reshaping the logistics landscape.
