China-based AAV technology platform EHang Holdings has formed a strategic partnership with Charoen Pokphand Group (CP Group), one of the largest conglomerates in Thailand, with the intent to establish a joint venture in Thailand for AAV sales and urban air mobility (UAM) operations.

The two parties intend to fully leverage their respective expertise and resources in a long term comprehensive collaboration on AAV product sales and marketing, regulatory compliance, business development, infrastructure deployment and talent cultivation for future UAM operations, and to introduce safe, autonomous and sustainable air mobility technology and solutions to Thailand as well as more overseas markets. The parties expect that their strategic collaboration will unleash UAM solutions' value-creating potential across multiple industries.

As a leading tech and innovative multinational conglomerate with investments in 21 countries and economies, CP Group is comprised of eight business lines and 14 business groups covering various sectors such as agriculture and food, retail and distribution, media and telecommunications, e-commerce and digital, property development, automotive and industrial products, and pharmaceuticals. The partnership opens up cross-sector cooperation opportunities for CP Group and EHang and sets up a solid foundation for potential use cases for EHang AAVs in scenarios such as aerial sightseeing, cargo transportation, last mile delivery, city air taxi and smart city management in Thailand and beyond.

Jiraporn Sudanich, consul general of the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Guangzhou, China, attended the signing ceremony.He says: “EHang's innovative technologies are of great significance and can be applied to various fields including tourism, logistics, healthcare, disaster mitigation and agriculture. I believe that the cooperation between EHang and CP Group will enrich the industrial chain of robotic technology in Thailand, and I also expect to see EHang bring new vitality to the development of Thailand's technology industry in the future.”

“By joining hands with EHang, a global pioneer in the autonomous eVTOL industry, we've taken a step further toward our commitment to driving our businesses, society and the environment closer to sustainability and exploring a new zero-carbon air mobility mode for the community,” says CP Group senior vice chairman Thanakorn Seriburi. “Through leveraging EHang's unique AAV technologies and efficient and eco-friendly UAM solutions for different industries, I believe our partnership will further create synergies among CP Group's industrial, aviation, smart city, food, retail, pharmaceutical and other business lines, and will unlock opportunities on a diversified UAM ecosystem and facilitate the development of smart cities in Thailand.”

EHang chairman and CEO Huazhi Hu adds: “We are thrilled to partner with CP Group to introduce EHang AAVs to Thailand, one of the largest southeast Asian markets with great potentials for UAM operations. We will work with the company, which has a wealth of comprehensive business strengths in its local markets, on extensive and sustainable cooperation in various fields to take the lead in bringing safe, autonomous and eco-friendly air mobility to Thailand's industries and society.”

EHang has recently expanded its footprint across Asia with customers and partners in Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.