UAM technology platform EHang Holdings has commenced a strategic cooperation framework agreement with Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group (JAC Motors) and Hefei Guoxian Holdings. Under this agreement, cooperation will focus on establishing a joint venture in Hefei, China to invest in the construction of a manufacturing base for low-altitude aircraft. The facility will integrate advanced technology, standardisation and automation to produce intelligent and pilotless eVTOLs.

The strategic cooperation signing ceremony was attended by key officials including Fei Yuan, standing committee member of Hefei Municipal Committee and vice mayor of Hefei; Xingchu Xiang, chairman and general manager of JAC Motors; Xingke Yin, vice general manager of JAC Motors; Huazhi Hu, founder, chairman and CEO of EHang; and Zhao Wang, chief operating officer of EHang. They were joined by other distinguished guests in witnessing the signing of the strategic cooperation agreement, marking a new milestone in the high-quality development of China's low-altitude economy ecosystem.

Under the cooperation agreement, the three partners will collaborate for R&D, manufacturing and sales of this new type of eVTOL aircraft, to accelerate the technological advancements, industrialisation and production capacity growth. The partnership will integrate the new energy vehicle industrial chain in Hefei with aircraft manufacturing technology, promote the standardisation of key aircraft components, establish unified industry standards and cultivate a comprehensive industrial cluster. This initiative aims to foster the development of the low-altitude economy and a new multi-dimensional transportation ecosystem.

As one of China's top 100 industrial enterprises, JAC Motors will leverage its expertise in traditional automobile manufacturing, including mature production line processes, advanced manufacturing capabilities, and efficient production capacity and supply chain management, to scale up and automate eVTOL aircraft production. EHang will contribute its cutting-edge R&D and production technologies in the eVTOL aircraft sector, along with its extensive experience in airworthiness certification and operations, providing essential technical support and assurance for low-altitude aviation in the partnership. Guoxian Holdings, a key player in the International Advanced Technology Application Promotion Center in Hefei, which drives breakthroughs, resource integration and the cultivation of new quality productive forces, will facilitate policy support and create a favourable development environment for the cooperation. The partners will conduct joint research on the automated production technologies and processes of low-altitude aircraft, plan to build an aircraft manufacturing base in Hefei and optimise product design and production processes by integrating their respective resources, collectively accelerating the commercialisation of low-altitude aviation in the future.

EHang is actively collaborating with more local governments and partners in ample preparation for upcoming commercial operations of the low-altitude economy, including infrastructure construction, personnel training and production capacity expansion. In October 2023, the Hefei municipal government signed a strategic cooperation agreement with EHang, leading to the establishment of two urban air mobility (UAM) eVTOL operation centres at Luogang Central Park in Hefei. The collaboration with JAC Motors and Guoxian Holdings to build a world-class eVTOL production facility will further meet the growing market demand for pilotless passenger-carrying aircraft and lay the foundation for the large-scale deployment of eVTOLs once the low-altitude economy enters the commercial operation phase.

At the signing ceremony, Fei Yuan, standing committee member of Hefei Municipal Committee and vice mayor of Hefei, extended his congratulations on the cooperation among the three parties. He emphasised that Hefei, as a key city for the national development of the low-altitude economy, will strongly support the partnership. The city aims to help all parties take the lead in exploring eVTOL supply chain capabilities, technology development and standard formulation. It will also provide advanced experience for the development of the low-altitude technology industry, seize the first-mover advantage in the opportunity of leapfrog development of the low-altitude economy and create a demonstration benchmark in the field of intelligent manufacturing of the low-altitude economy in Hefei.

Xingchu Xiang, chairman and general manager of JAC Motors, comments: “As a comprehensive automotive enterprise group integrating the R&D, production, sales and service of full series commercial and passenger vehicles, and covering a wide range of fields including automotive mobility and financial services, JAC Motors is strategically partnering with EHang and Guoxian Holdings to develop the low-altitude economy. By leveraging Hefei's high-quality resources, this collaboration aims to drive the high-quality growth of emerging industries. We look forward to the mass production of low-altitude eVTOLs in Hefei and believe that our trilateral partnership will achieve outstanding results in this innovation-driven city.”

Huazhi Hu, founder, chairman and CEO of EHang, adds: “EHang is committed to advancing a full-scale low-altitude air mobility ecosystem and continuously collaborating with upstream and downstream partners to strengthen the industrial chain for pilotless eVTOL products. By joining forces with JAC Motors and Guoxian Holdings, we are building a strong foundation for future three-dimensional transportation ecosystems. With our combined efforts, we believe that the low-altitude economy will achieve groundbreaking advancements in intelligence, automation and environmental sustainability, writing a new chapter for China's high-quality development of the low-altitude economy in Hefei.”