EHang says it is preparing to unveil a longer-range autonomous eVTOL aircraft that would be able to carry two passengers more than 100 km (62 miles). Its current two-seat 216 Autonomous Aerial Vehicle is limited to just 35 km.
The Chinese company’s founder, chairman, and CEO, Huazhi Hu, disclosed the planned product on August 25 while announcing financial results for the second quarter of 2020. Chief strategy officer Edward Xu quickly added that no further details will be released for now, but that the project is “almost ready for release.”
Quizzed by analysts as to how EHang intends to triple the range of its current eVTOL design, Xu responded, “We won’t comment on how we are achieving this, but you will be surprised.” He added that the new aircraft is “one of a number of things in our pipeline.”
Revenues climbed in the second quarter by almost 63 percent to RMB35.7 ($5.1 million). More than 63 percent of this came from what EHang categorizes as “air mobility solutions,” which appear to mainly involve producing public light shows with drones. The company reported a gross profit of RMB20.6 million, but its underlying operating loss for the Nasdaq-listed group was RMB19.2 million.
Earlier this year, EHang started trial operations in China with the 216 AAV for tasks such as carrying light freight and giving sightseeing rides for guests at the LN Garden Hotel in Guangzhou province. Xu confirmed that the local government owns the hotel and that his company isn’t yet receiving income for these services.
Hu told analysts that EHang has shifted its strategic priorities in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic to focus mainly on the Chinese and European markets for its eVTOL aircraft. There was no mention of plans for the U.S. market, where EHang last year conducted flight trials in North Carolina. However, across the border in Canada, it has now been approved to begin trial operations with local partner United Therapeutics, which plans to use the vehicles for transporting human organs for medical transplants.
In Europe, EHang is preparing to launch a trial operation of the 216 AAV with authorities in the Dutch port city of Rotterdam, who want to use the aircraft to transport crew to and from ships. The company says it also has a new undisclosed partner in France and another in South Korea.
Later this year, EHang will start construction of a production facility in Guangzhou that will be able to build up to 600 vehicles per year. It says the facility will also be used for development work and training.
