Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government is targeting to officially launch operations of the drone-like air taxis in Nusantara in 2028, a lawmaker said on Wednesday.

EHang 216-S air taxis will be deployed in Nusantara, which is currently being developed in East Kalimantan province, as part of efforts to create a modern and technologically advanced urban environment in Indonesia’s future capital.

“We aim to designate EHang as a modern means of transportation that ferries people from one point to another in Nusantara,” Bambang Soesatyo, a member of the House of Representatives (DPR), said during a trial of the autonomous aerial taxis in Tangerang, Banten, on Wednesday.

“The target is to start operating EHang as a modern mode of transportation in Nusantara, as this city is being developed as an international city,” he emphasized.

Soesatyo, who is also chairperson of the Indonesian Motor Association (IMI), highlighted that the plan to operate EHang 216-S taxis aligns with the government’s goal of making Nusantara a smart and sustainable city, as the taxis run on electricity and are equipped with advanced technology.

“I hope this vehicle will become a modern mode of transportation—a sky taxi that not only eases traffic congestion but also supports the national tourism sector,” the former speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) added.

The EHang 216-S stands 1.77 meters tall and spans 5.61 meters in width. It has a maximum payload capacity of 220 kilograms and can reach a top speed of 130 kilometers per hour. As an autonomous aerial vehicle, it is operated not by a human pilot but artificial intelligence.

During the trial, Rudy Salim, the executive chairperson of Prestige Aviation, the company that introduced EHang 216-S to Indonesia, said that one taxi costs approximately US$535 thousand.

However, he stressed that its operational cost is far more affordable compared to helicopters.

“EHang requires only around Rp500 thousand (US$30) to charge its battery. In contrast, a 30-minute helicopter ride may cost up to Rp50 million (US$3,000),” he said.

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