Flying Taxi Startup Expands Into Hong Kong

Air taxi company EHang Holdings in China has signed an agreement with one of Hong Kong’s largest transportation companies to promote the operation of EHang’s pilotless eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) vehicle in Hong Kong, Macau and other cities in China.

The agreement with KC Smart Mobility Company, a subsidiary of KCBH, aims to use the EHang EH216-S pilotless electric aerial vehicle (EAV) for travel services.

“We are thrilled to join hands with KCBH in our ongoing efforts to advance UAM commercial operations,” said Zhao Wang, chief operating officer of EHang. “With KCBH’s long history and extensive customer base in the transportation sector, we believe our collaboration will effectively promote the deployment and operation of EH216-S aircraft in Hong Kong and Macau. 

“This partnership will inject new vitality into local tourism and air mobility market to drive innovation and development in the low-altitude economy sector.”

EHang recently signed an agreement with China Southern Airlines General Aviation Company to create operation demonstration sites for low-altitude tourism and flight services.

The companies plan to create sites for flying EHang’s EAVs at Zhuhai Jiuzhou Airport and the Zhuhai Chimelong Ocean Kingdom.

That partnership agreement also includes for the development of use cases for pilotless eVTOL vehicles. Use cases could include inter-island cargo transportation, emergency response and medical rescue transportation services.

Related:Air Taxi Flies in Saudi Arabia; Pilotless Travel

China Southern Airlines General Aviation Company, a business unit of China Southern Airlines Company, conducts offshore oil and gas platform flight services, power line patrol flights, emergency rescue, helicopter escrow and public services. 

EHang has taken passengers on demonstration flights in its EAV as part of a tourism initiative called Low-Altitude Tourism in Wencheng.

EHang had delivered 27 of its EAVs to Wencheng County Transportation Development Group in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, as part of a deal to sell 300 pilotless EAVs to the tourism development group.

EHang carried multiple passengers in low-altitude, sightseeing tours over Tianding Lake at the Baizhangji Fall and Feiyun Lake Scenic Resort, providing views of the general Wencheng area.

A takeoff and landing site for the two-passenger EAV was set up at the Scenic Resort. The urban air mobility (UAM) operation center and supporting infrastructure served as a model for other areas in Wencheng to establish aerial sightseeing services, according to the company

Related:Flying Taxi Startup Partners With China Airlines Company

The autonomous flying taxi from EHang recently took its maiden autonomous flight in Saudi Arabia.

The vehicle flew in Mecca in conjunction with Front End Limited Company, a Saudi company that serves various industries.

In Saudi Arabia, EHang is supported by Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation, the Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services, the Ministry of Hajj and the Ministry of Interior.

EHang has an agreement to sell 50 flying vehicles to Xishan Tourism in a $15 million deal.

Before the Saudi Arabia flight, EHang took its first passenger for a demonstration ride in Abu Dhabi.

The passenger flight followed demonstrations of the EAV conducted without passengers at the DriftX mobility expo in Abu Dhabi.

The EAV maker joined the Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industries Cluster in Abu Dhabi and formed a partnership with Wings Logistics Hub, a passenger eVTOL subsidiary of Technology Holding Company.

EHang also is collaborating with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office for EAV development in the UAE.

EAV battery charging times are expected to take fewer than 10 minutes for charging to 30% to 80%, according to EHang.

EHang has received the Production Certificate (PC) for its EH216-S from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). 

The $410,000 EAV has received a standard airworthiness certificate (AC) from the CACC, the first of its kind globally for an EAV and the company is authorized for mass production.

EHang also has flown a group of 12 EAVs together in China. In a video, the 12 flying vehicles took off together from an airfield in Hefei, China, on what appeared to be a snowy day.