EHang Announces Japan's First UAM Center in Tsukuba
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Insights
The inauguration of Japan's first Urban Air Mobility (UAM) Center by EHang Holdings Limited marks a significant development in the urban transportation landscape. The UAM industry is poised for growth, driven by advancements in electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) technology and increasing demand for efficient, eco-friendly transportation solutions.
The presence of a UAM Center in Tsukuba City could spur local economic development by attracting investments and creating new jobs related to the maintenance and operation of eVTOL aircraft. Furthermore, the successful deployment of EHang's EH216-S pilotless eVTOL for various applications, including aerial sightseeing and emergency services, demonstrates the versatility and potential revenue streams for the company.
However, the industry is still in its nascent stages and regulatory hurdles remain a significant barrier. The success of this UAM Center and subsequent ones planned for Tokyo will depend on the regulatory environment and public acceptance of pilotless air vehicles. Stakeholders should monitor these developments closely as they could have far-reaching implications for EHang's market penetration and stock performance.
EHang's initiative aligns with global efforts to reduce carbon emissions and transition to sustainable modes of transportation. The eVTOL technology, being electric, offers a greener alternative to traditional combustion-engine helicopters and could contribute to Japan's environmental goals.
The integration of eVTOLs into existing transportation infrastructures poses environmental and policy challenges, including noise pollution and airspace management. The EH216-S's pilotless feature may also raise concerns about safety and reliability, which could influence public policy and regulatory decisions. It's important for EHang to engage with policymakers and communities to address these concerns and facilitate the adoption of UAM solutions.
Investors should consider the potential for eVTOLs to disrupt the transportation industry and the environmental benefits they offer. However, the long-term impact on EHang's business will be contingent on the company's ability to navigate the complex regulatory landscape and public perception.
The establishment of a UAM Center by EHang represents a strategic move within the aviation industry, particularly in the context of Japan's advanced air mobility initiatives. EHang's positioning as the unique pilotless eVTOL provider in Japan's Public-Private Committee for Advanced Air Mobility could provide a competitive advantage in the market.
The collaboration with AirX and the expansion across multiple cities in Japan highlight EHang's commitment to international expansion and diversification of its operational capabilities. This could potentially lead to increased demand for EHang's eVTOLs, impacting the company's revenue and growth trajectory.
Investors should note that the aviation industry is highly regulated and capital-intensive. EHang's ability to scale operations and maintain safety standards will be critical for its success. The performance of the EH216-S and the expansion of UAM Centers will be key indicators of EHang's ability to execute its vision and could influence investor confidence.
GUANGZHOU, China, March 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EHang Holdings Limited (“EHang” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: EH), the world’s leading urban air mobility (“UAM”) technology platform company, announced today that Japan's first UAM Center has been established in Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture. This state-of-the-art facility serves as a demonstration flight site, ground infrastructure, and maintenance base for EHang’s various pilotless electric vertical takeoff and landing (“eVTOL”) aircraft in the region, including EH216-S. This UAM center is a milestone in Japan's advanced air mobility industry.
(During the inauguration ceremony of UAM Center, EH216-S completed its debut flight in the Kanto region in Japan.)
During the inauguration ceremony attended by Mr. Tatsuo Igarashi, mayor of Tsukuba City, the EH216-S pilotless eVTOL successfully completed its first flight in the Kanto region for aerial sightseeing.
The establishment of the UAM Center is the result of a strategic partnership between EHang and AirX Inc. (“AirX”), a leading Japanese air mobility digital platform company. Situated on the site of the former Helicopter Control and Command Center owned by Ibaraki Prefectural Government, the UAM Center houses hangars with capacity for approximately 25 units of EH216-S aircraft. The shared landing platform, used by both helicopters and eVTOLs, covers an area of around 30,000 square meters. Developed by AirX in collaboration with Tsukuba Airlines, the UAM Center is designed to meet the evolving needs of next-generation air mobility that encompasses pilotless eVTOL aircraft, helicopters and private jets.
(From left to right: Tatsuo Igarashi, mayor of Tsukuba City, Tetsuo Tanaka, Tsukuba Airlines COO, Tezuka Kiwamu, Founder and CEO of AirX, Conor Yang, CFO of EHang)
EHang has been actively expanding its presence in the global market. To date, the EH216-S pilotless eVTOL aircraft has successfully conducted flights across 12 cities in Japan, showcasing its versatility in various use cases, including aerial sightseeing, island transportation, aerial logistics, and emergency services.
In 2023, EHang became a member of Japan's Public-Private Committee for Advanced Air Mobility. This recognition underscores EHang's pivotal role in driving the advancement of Japan's innovative air transportation initiatives, particularly as the unique pilotless eVTOL provider among the 56 committee members.
Tezuka Kiwamu, Founder and CEO of AirX, commented, “Through the establishment of this UAM Center, our goal is to showcase air mobility flight experiences to the public. In the future, we plan to offer aerial sightseeing services with the cutting-edge EH216-S eVTOL aircraft at this location. Looking ahead, AirX is gearing up to launch additional UAM Centers in Tokyo, solidifying our commitment to spearheading the development of UAM and transforming the future of transportation in Japan.”
Huazhi Hu, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of EHang, remarked, “Congratulations on the inauguration of Japan's first UAM Center. This is a key milestone in UAM, bringing us one step closer to introducing a new era of transportation to the public. EHang will continue collaborating with our partners in promoting safe, autonomous, and environmentally friendly UAM solutions in Japan, as we aim to offer our pilotless eVTOLs to a global audience and enhance the lives of people worldwide.”
(EH216-S pilotless eVTOL successfully completed its debut flight in the Kanto region, Japan)
About EHang
EHang (Nasdaq: EH) is the world’s leading urban air mobility (“UAM”) technology platform company. Our mission is to enable safe, autonomous, and eco-friendly air mobility accessible to everyone. EHang provides customers in various industries with unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) systems and solutions: air mobility (including passenger transportation and logistics), smart city management, and aerial media solutions. EHang’s flagship product EH216-S has obtained the world’s first type certificate and standard airworthiness certificate for pilotless eVTOL from the Civil Aviation Administration of China in 2023. As the forerunner of cutting-edge UAV technologies and commercial solutions in the global UAM industry, EHang continues to explore the boundaries of the sky to make flying technologies benefit our life in smart cities. For more information, please visit www.ehang.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains statements that may constitute “forward-looking” statements pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “aims,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “likely to” and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about management’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to those relating to certifications, our expectations regarding demand for, and market acceptance of, our products and solutions and the commercialization of UAM services, our relationships with strategic partners, and current litigation and potential litigation involving us. Management has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections. While they believe these expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections are reasonable, such forward-looking statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond management’s control. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause EHang’s actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.
Media Contact: pr@ehang.com
Investor Contact: ir@ehang.com
Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
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FAQ
What is the significance of the establishment of Japan's first UAM Center by EHang Holdings ?
Who is the strategic partner of EHang in establishing the UAM Center in Japan?
What is the capacity of the hangars at the UAM Center for EH216-S aircraft?
How many cities in Japan has the EH216-S pilotless eVTOL aircraft conducted flights across?
What committee did EHang become a member of in Japan in 2023?
