EHang has announced that it has secured the first order for its VT-30, a long-range electric passenger-grade autonomous air vehicle (AAV). EHang will work with local partners, such as the Okayama Kurashiki Mizushima Aero & Space Industry Cluster Study Group (MASC), to further explore use cases with its EH216 and VT-30 and develop the urban air mobility network in Japan.
In 2019, Public-Private Council for Air Transportation Revolution in Japan positioned the Fukushima RTF as a fixed site for test flights, preparing for the goal of achieving commercial applications of eVTOLs in 2023.
According to a press release:
“The AAVs have always been expected to be used in the scenarios of travel on outlying islands and sparsely populated areas, life rescue and material support in disasters. I also personally feel the efforts made by enterprises in various industries like EHang to achieve this goal.” Narisawa Koichi, the Counselor of Civil Aviation Bureau at Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (“MLIT”) of Japan, said that the MLIT of Japan will formulate and publish new flight test guidelines to support the experimental tests of enterprises, such as EHang.
“Recently, with the cooperation and support of the MASC, EHang’s dual-seat AAV EH216 has completed demonstration flights successively in Fukushima and Okayama, Japan after its flight debut in June this year. This further explored the application and practice of AAV solutions in use cases such as cross-island travel, emergency rescue and aerial logistics.”
Hashimoto Gaku, a member of the Japan House of Representatives said, “In the near future, the EHang’s AAV will make a leap in the practical field of Japan. I look forward to this day coming soon.”
Minehito Inoue, the Chairman of Kurashiki Chamber of Commerce & Industry, said, “We hope to use EH216 to help aerial logistics between islands in the Setouchi Area.”
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