By Philip Butterworth-Hayes
While this year’s Zhuhai Air Show – more formally, the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition – will be mainly remembered for the aerobatic performance of China’s fifth generation J-35A, the number and range of eVTOLs on display along with new product announcements and orders, has shown that country is not just dominating this aerospace sector but pulling further away from its rivals in the West.
Aerofugia, a subsidiary of Chinese automaker Geely, unveiled the production configuration of its six seat AE200 electric air taxi, with a range of 200km. The company announced a 120 aircraft order from ICBC Financial Leasing. “The two parties will combine their expertise in finance and R&D and manufacturing to accelerate the deployment and promotion of eVTOL product solutions, and jointly explore the establishment of an eVTOL valuation system and leasing business standards. ICBC Financial Leasing will provide a full range of financial services for the entire chain of low-altitude economic supply chain, manufacturing, operation, and security,” said the company in a press statement. The company also announced a long list of industrial supply contracts, including with Ansheng (Tianjin) Flight Simulation System Co, China Aviation Industry Corporation Composites, Aviage, Zhongfa Tianxin, Huashe Design Group and Dassault Systèmes.
XPENG debuted its modular flying car, the ‘Land Aircraft Carrier,’ at the airshow. The company reported it had secured over 2,000 orders for the vehicle(s) at the show, “setting a new record for the highest order volume (totally 5,000 orders now) in the global flying car market.”
China’s Wanfeng Diamond Aircraft unveiled the latest design of its electric air taxi, the V.MO. Wanfeng Diamond Aircraft has acquired the rights to the design from Volkswagen Group China.
(Image: Guangzhou Automobile Group)
And Guangzhou Automobile Group Co displayed its “Gove”, a single seat autonomous passenger eVTOL aircraft integrated within a roadworthy platform; the vehicle consists of two separate units, the flight pod and the road chassis, both can travel together or independently of each other.
(Image: AE200 electric air taxi, Aerofugia)