AutoFlight’s five-tonne Matrix bets on heavy payloads and regional range to prove the case for electric flight
Updated
February 10, 2026 12:56 PM
A multiroter flying through a blue sky. PHOTO: UNSPLASH
The nascent industry of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft has long been defined by a specific set of limitations: small payloads, short distances and a primary focus on urban air taxis. AutoFlight, a Chinese aviation startup, recently moved to shift that narrative by unveiling "Matrix," a five-tonne aircraft that represents a significant leap in scale for electric aviation.
In a demonstration at the company’s flight test center, the Matrix completed a full transition flight—the technically demanding process of switching from vertical lift-off to forward wing-born flight and back to a vertical landing. While small-scale drones and four-seat prototypes have become increasingly common, this marks the first time an electric aircraft of this mass has successfully executed the maneuver.
The sheer scale of the Matrix places it in a different category than the "flying cars" currently being tested for hops over city traffic. With a maximum takeoff weight of 5,700 kilograms (roughly 12,500 pounds), the aircraft has the footprint of a traditional regional turboprop, boasting a 20-meter wingspan. Its size allows for configurations that the industry has previously struggled to accommodate, including a ten-seat business class cabin or a cargo hold capable of carrying 1,500 kilograms of freight.
This increased capacity is more than just a feat of engineering; it is a direct attempt to solve the financial hurdles that have plagued the sector, specifically addressing the skepticism industry analysts have often expressed regarding the economic viability of smaller eVTOLs. These critics frequently cite the high cost of operation relative to the low passenger count as a barrier to entry.
AutoFlight’s founder and CEO, Tian Yu, suggested the Matrix is a direct response to those concerns. “Matrix is not just a rising star in the aviation industry, but also an ambitious disruptor,” Yu stated. “It will eliminate the industry perception that eVTOL = short-haul, low payload and reshape the rules of eVTOL routes. Through economies of scale, it significantly reduces transportation costs per seat-kilometer and per ton-kilometer, thus revolutionizing costs and driving profitability.”
To achieve this, the aircraft utilizes a "lift and cruise" configuration. In simple terms, this means the plane uses one set of dedicated rotors to lift it off the ground like a helicopter, but once it reaches a certain speed, it uses a separate propeller to fly forward like a traditional airplane, allowing the wings to provide the lift. This design is paired with a distinctive "triplane" layout—three layers of wings—and a six-arm structure to keep the massive frame stable.
These features allow the Matrix to serve a variety of roles. For the "low-altitude economy" being promoted by Chinese regulators, the startup is offering a pure electric model with a 250-kilometer range for regional hops, alongside a hybrid-electric version capable of traveling 1,500 kilometers. The latter version, equipped with a forward-opening door to fit standard air freight containers, targets a logistics sector still heavily reliant on carbon-intensive trucking.
However, the road to commercial flight remains a steep one. Despite the successful flight demonstration, AutoFlight faces the same formidable headwinds as its competitors, such as a complex global regulatory landscape and the rigorous demands of airworthiness certification. While the Matrix validates the company's high-power propulsion, moving from a test-center demonstration to a commercial fleet will require years of safety data.
Nevertheless, the debut of the Matrix signals a maturation of the startup’s ambitions. Having previously developed smaller models for autonomous logistics and urban mobility, AutoFlight is now betting that the future of electric flight isn't just in avoiding gridlock, but in hauling the weight of regional commerce. Whether the infrastructure and regulators are ready to accommodate a five-tonne electric disruptor remains the industry's unanswered question.
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A closer look at PMMI’s FastTrack initiative and why it matters for growing manufacturing firms
Updated
February 5, 2026 1:49 PM
Cardboard boxes in a warehouse. PHOTO: UNSPLASH
Large trade shows are built for scale. But for small and medium-sized manufacturers, that scale often creates distance between what’s on display and what they can actually use. Too many options, too little time, and very few tools designed for companies that are still growing. That mismatch is what PMMI is trying to correct with its new SMB FastTrack Program at PACK EXPO East 2026.
That is the problem PMMI is trying to address with its new SMB FastTrack Program, launching at PACK EXPO East 2026 in Philadelphia.
PMMI — the Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies — is the industry body behind the PACK EXPO trade shows and a central organization in the global packaging and processing sector. Through FastTrack, it has created a program (not an app or a product) designed to help small and mid-sized companies navigate the show more efficiently and connect with solutions that fit their scale.
The idea behind SMB FastTrack is simple: reduce friction. Instead of asking smaller firms to sort through hundreds of exhibitors and sessions on their own, the program curates what is most relevant to them. Exhibitors that offer flexible pricing, right-sized machinery, or SMB-focused services are clearly identified with visual icons in both the online directory and on the show floor. That way, a small manufacturer can quickly distinguish between enterprise-only vendors and partners that are realistically accessible.
The same logic carries into education. Rather than treating all attendees the same, PACK EXPO East 2026 will include a learning track specifically built around SMB realities. These sessions focus on issues that smaller teams actually face—how to hire and train workers, use AI without over-investing, improve food safety, cut operating costs, and adopt technology in stages. The goal is not inspiration, but applicability: content that reflects real constraints, not ideal scenarios.
Planning, too, is built into the structure of the program. Through a dedicated FastTrack landing page, participants can access curated supplier lists, recommended sessions, and planning tools that help organize their time before they ever step onto the show floor. Tools like category search and sustainability finders are meant to narrow choices quickly, turning a massive event into something manageable.
Seen together, these elements point to a broader intention. PMMI is not simply adding features—it is reshaping how smaller manufacturers experience a major industry event. Instead of competing for attention in a space built for scale, SMBs are given clearer paths to the people, tools, and knowledge that match where they actually are in their growth cycle.
What makes SMB FastTrack notable is not the technology behind it, but the intention behind it. PMMI is recognizing that progress for small and mid-sized manufacturers depends less on spectacle and more on fit—solutions that are accessible, affordable, and adaptable. The program is designed to help companies move with purpose, not pressure.
In an industry where visibility often follows size, SMB FastTrack represents a structural shift. It treats small and medium-sized manufacturers not as a subset of the audience, but as a distinct group with distinct needs. By doing so, PMMI is quietly redefining what a trade show can be: not just a marketplace of innovation, but a usable platform for companies still building their next stage of growth.