EHang announced this week it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Bao’an District Government (BDG) of Shenzhen municipality, to collaborate on Urban Air Mobility (UAM) for commercial operations of EHang’s 216‑S AAV, following the completion of the EH216‑S Type Certification, reports a press release.
The release explains, “Bao’an District and EHang will jointly develop UAM use cases, systems and routes to build Shenzhen as a national low-altitude economy (LAE) development demonstration city.”
It continues, “Leveraging the high-quality resources of Bao’an District, EHang plans to establish the Company’s first UAM Operation Demonstration Centre at the OH Bay, an urban landmark in Shenzhen, and to launch aerial tourism and sightseeing experience services with EH216‑S AAVs.”
Under this MOU partnership, the BDG is to provide comprehensive support for EH216‑S AAV procurement, financial leasing, infrastructure construction and low-altitude operations in the area. EHang then plans to establish a 216 AAV Assembly and Delivery Centre, including R&D testing as well as Maintenance Support in Bao’an District, to ensure local UAM services.
At this week’s ‘2023 Bao’an District Low-Altitude Economy Investment Promotion Conference,’ the BDG officially unveiled its LAE development plan (refers to low flying eVTOLs, VTOLs and drones). Since early 2023, Shenzhen municipality has continued to strengthen its support for this industry.
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Shenzhen’s 2023 Government Work Report proposes to establish a LAE Centre and a Civil Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Demonstration Zone, and put the “Regulations on Promotion of Shenzhen Special Economic Zone Low-Altitude Economy Industry” as its key legislative project.
Bao’an District is a core aviation industrial hub in Shenzhen, with a strong manufacturing foundation and well-established supply chain that holds strong advantages for the development of the LAE. The OH Bay, a Shenzhen’s landmark located in the centre of Bao’an District, has a prosperous and developed cultural and tourism industry, which provides a broad market for EH216‑S AAVs to be the first eVTOL aircraft to launch and operate in this area.
Ms Meng Jinjin, Executive Deputy District Mayor of Bao’an District, commented, “Bao’an District is committed to provide a favourable market environment and policy framework for enterprises in the low-altitude economy industry and highly values the innovative development of the new aviation industry. EHang boasts extensive experience in the research, development, production and operations of passenger-carrying AAVs.”
Ms Meng Jinjin Speaking at the Signing Ceremony
She continued, “Starting with the UAM Operation Demonstration Centre at the OH Bay, we aim to further collaborate with EHang to carry out various UAM projects in Bao’an District, with the goal to develop more than 10 routes this year.”
Xin Fang, COO of EHang, remarked, “We are delighted to collaborate with the Bao’an District Government of Shenzhen municipality to jointly explore UAM operations. We look forward to contributing EHang’s expertise to establishing a low-altitude service ecosystem and to ultimately nurture high-quality development of this economy in Shenzhen and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.”
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