EHang and Hong Kong firm KC Smart Mobility are partnering to promote urban air mobility in Hong Kong, Macau and the cities of Xiangyang and Shiyan in Hubei Province in China. As part of the agreement, KC, a subsidiary of Kwoon Chung Bus (KCBH), the largest non-franchised bus operator in Hong Kong, is buying 30 EH216-S autonomous eVTOL planes to operate in the four cities.

KCBH provides passenger transport services between mainland China and Hong Kong, as well as local transport services within Hong Kong. It has expanded operations to tourism sites such as Lantau Island in Hong Kong and Bipenggou Tourism Resort in Sichuan Province.

KCHH subsidiary KC Smart Mobility plans to contribute to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government’s upcoming blueprint for low-altitude economy development and the formulation of related laws and regulations. EHang and KC Smart Mobility will make joint efforts to kick off the EH216-S flight event in Hong Kong, setting a benchmark for UAM operation with pilotless eVTOL in Hong Kong.

Recently, Hong Kong began aligning with the Chinese national strategy of low-altitude economy. John Lee Ka-chiu, Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, said in the Legislative Council that the government is to research and development of the low-altitude economy.

Professor Sun Dong, Secretary of Innovation, Technology, and Industry Bureau of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, has said that Hong Kong has a technology foundation for eVTOLs. The government has committed to the eVTOL industry and will and tailor strategies in accordance with Hong Kong’s conditions, legal frameworks, market needs, and commercial needs.

Jingkai Zheng, Mainland China Business Director at KCBH, remarked: “Our partnership with EHang marks a new era by extending our passenger transport services from the ground to the sky. We look forward to the EH216-S playing a significant role in aerial sightseeing and air mobility, as well as other use cases in Hong Kong and Macau, and we will prepare for EH216-S commercialisation with the highest safety standards that ensured for our air mobility services.”

Zhao Wang, Chief Operating Officer of EHang, stated: “With KCBH’s long history and extensive customer base in the transportation sector, we believe our collaboration will effectively promote the deployment and operation of EH216-S aircraft in Hong Kong and Macau. This partnership will inject new vitality into local tourism and air mobility market to drive innovation and development in the low-altitude economy sector.”