EHang has partnered with Charoen Pokphand Group, one of the largest conglomerates in Thailand, with an intent to establish a joint venture in Thailand for autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV) sales and urban air mobility (UAM) operations.
The Thailand-based company operates across multiple industries, from agriculture to e-commerce and more. Its goal is to use EHang’s autonomous and sustainable air mobility technology and solutions to facilitate the development of a UAM ecosystem and smart cities in Thailand.
Charoen Pokphand plans to eventually use EHang AAVs in various scenarios, such as aerial sightseeing, cargo transportation, last-mile delivery, city air taxi, smart city management, etc. in Thailand and beyond.
EHang closed several deals in different regions over the past year. Recently, a Malaysian company Aerotree has, placed the largest pre-order for 60 passenger-grade eVTOL aircraft that comprises 50 EH216 series eVTOLs and 10 longer-range VT-30 variants.
EHang’s 216 is a short-range, two-seater AAV that uses 16 electric rotors and can move along a predetermined route at a cruise speed of about 130 km/h (81 mph). The aircraft is capable of carrying payloads (cargo or passengers) of up to 260kg. It can reach a maximum speed of 160 km/h (99 mph) and fly for a range of 30-40 km (16-22 miles).
Its VT-30 is described as a long-range AAV designed for inter-city transportation. The two-passenger aircraft is equipped with eight propellers on both sides and has a propelling propeller at the rear designed to achieve a maximum balance of hybrid lift and push. It can fly up to 300 km (180 miles) on a single battery charge.
