China Delivers First Domestic eVTOL Engine, the AECC AEE25

This article summarizes reporting by CGTN.

The Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC) Aeroengine Control System Institute and Shanghai TCab Technology Co., Ltd. (TCab Tech) delivered the AEE25 aviation electric engine on June 5, 2026, in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province. The delivery marks the rollout of China’s first domestically developed electric engine designed specifically for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

According to reporting by CGTN, the 200-kilowatt class engine has entered the airworthiness Certification process alongside TCab Tech’s E20 eVTOL aircraft. The development aligns with China’s broader economic initiatives to expand its low-altitude aviation sector, supported by a newly established electric propulsion business unit within the AECC institute.

Technical specifications and integration

The AEE25 engine features a highly integrated “six-in-one” design. This configuration consolidates the main motor, main motor controller, cooling system motor, cooling system motor controller, variable-pitch actuator, and variable-pitch controller into a single unit. To maintain power output and ensure safety during a single-point failure, the system incorporates redundant dual motors and dual-channel controllers.

CGTN reported that the engine achieves a torque density between 40 and 44 newton-meters per kilogram (Nm/kg), which represents a domestic record for its power class. AECC institute project head Zhang Yu noted that higher torque density enables a lighter engine for equivalent power output, permitting designers to allocate additional weight to payloads, passengers, or other aircraft systems.

Plug-and-play installation

The integrated nature of the AEE25 is intended to simplify the Manufacturing process for eVTOL developers. AECC institute Deputy Director Liu Guoping stated that once the engine is fitted with a propeller and connected to the aircraft’s power and data bus, it is ready for operation.

Application in the E20 eVTOL program

The AEE25 is slated to power the E20 eVTOL aircraft, developed by TCab Tech. The E20, which was previously exhibited at the 8th China International Import Expo in Shanghai in November 2025, is designed to carry four to six passengers and has a maximum takeoff weight of two to three tonnes.

Both the aircraft and its new domestic engine are currently undergoing airworthiness certification. The concurrent certification of the airframe and the propulsion system represents a critical phase in bringing the E20 to the commercial market.

AirPro News analysis

The Delivery of the AEE25 indicates a strategic shift in China‘s aerospace supply chain, moving away from reliance on imported electric propulsion systems for domestic eVTOL projects. By establishing a dedicated electric propulsion unit within a state-owned aerospace giant like AECC, China is signaling intent to vertically integrate its advanced air mobility (AAM) sector. The stated torque density of 40 to 44 Nm/kg places the AEE25 in a competitive position globally, though the true test will be the system’s performance and reliability during the rigorous airworthiness certification process.

Sources: CGTN