EHang Conducts First Pilotless eVTOL Urban Flight in Europe, Taking Place in Benidorm, Spain
Chinese air taxi manufacturer EHang released a new low-altitude-flight safety research lab in Spain not too long ago. This happened only a few days after the first urban flight was completed by a pilotless air taxi in Spain. EHang established a joint venture with JAC Motors, with the main goal of providing money for building a production facility that will make eVTOL aircraft.
The new facility will be in Hefei, Anhui, China. It will integrate standardization, automation, and advanced technology in order to create smart, pilotless electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. JAC Motors is known for its large-scale vehicle manufacturing activity in China, so this partnership with EHang is surely expected to lead to something great.
Establishing a New Laboratory
EHang joined a new partnership with the University of Guangzhou and the University of Zaragoza to create the Joint Laboratory for Low-Altitude Flight Safety.
The purpose of this laboratory is to do deeper research into UAM safety, integration, and regulation. Thus, autonomous air transport in European cities will be closer to becoming a reality. The lab wants to become a center for innovation and international academic exchange.
Zaragoza City Hall hosted the ceremony. Senior officials such as Natalia Chueca, the Mayor of Zaragoza, and Yonghang Guo, the Guangzhou Municipal Committee Secretary, were present at the event.
Victoria Jing Xiang, the Chief Operating Officer for Latin America and Europe, spoke about how much of an honor it is to collaborate with the universities. “We are honoured to collaborate with the University of Guangzhou and the University of Zaragoza. Together, we will explore cutting-edge technologies and innovative models in low-altitude flight safety, setting a benchmark for the global development of UAM,” she said.
This new laboratory was established not long after a complete urban flight in Benidorm was performed by the pilotless EH216-S air taxi.
New Hefei Facility
As part of a partnership with Guoxian Holdings and JAC Motors, EHang will launch a new construction compound in Hefei. This will allow for more eVTOL manufacturing processes. When it finally becomes operational, the new facility will promote key aircraft component standardization while meeting unified industry standards. This gives the low-altitude economy the potential to develop.
This is not the first achievement of EHang in Hefei. Back in October 2023, the firm also signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the municipal government. This allowed them to establish two Urban Air Mobility eVTOL operation centers. Moreover, EHang got a flight license for an uncrewed passenger drone.
EHang’s European Flight
EHang managed to conduct a pilotless flight in Benidorm not long ago. This event involved 12 drones that took care of tasks such as cargo transport and surveillance. The demonstration made the aircraft fly through the urban air corridor. It was the first time European environments ever saw a pilotless aircraft operated under EASA.
The low-altitude industry in Europe and beyond will see some massive improvements in the future as EHang keeps expanding.
