EHang has announced the signing of a strategic cooperation framework agreement with the China Academy of Civil Aviation Science and Technology (CAST).
“The partnership aims to deepen cooperation in resource sharing, joint innovation, key project collaboration, breakthrough research and development, standards system development and high-level talent cultivation,” said the company in a press release. “Through this strategic collaboration, both parties will accelerate the commercialization of the low-altitude economy and jointly promote the high-quality development of civil unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) technologies, enhancing China’s global competitiveness in aviation science and technology.
“As global UAV and eVTOL technologies continue to advance rapidly, the low-altitude economy is entering a stage of accelerated growth. However, challenges remain in areas such as regulatory frameworks and operational ecosystem optimization. As a comprehensive research institute directly under the CAAC, CAST possesses strong scientific research capabilities in aviation safety, operations, and development. As a pioneer in the low-altitude economy, EHang leads in aircraft R&D, airworthiness certification, and commercial operations. By integrating resources across the entire value chain—from R&D, manufacturing, to operations and standardization—EHang and CAST will enhance the low-altitude operational ecosystem, drive technological innovation, and inject new momentum into the sustainable industry growth.”
According to the agreement, EHang and CAST will collaborate across six key areas: flight safety, operational support, route management, ecosystem development, technological cooperation, and policy and standards formulation. Both parties will leverage their respective strengths to strengthen cooperation in new aviation system R&D, airworthiness compliance verification, operational standard establishment, operator training systems, commercial compliance capability building, vertiport layout, flight procedure and route design, and the establishment of integrated low-altitude management platforms. This collaboration aims to enhance technological innovation, improve the low-altitude ecosystem, and promote the safe and stable operation of next-generation aircraft.
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(Image: The signing ceremony took place on November 10 at Luogang Park in Hefei. Yuan Fei, Member of the Standing Committee of the Hefei Municipal Committee and Vice Mayor of Hefei, Li Yu, President of CAST, and Zhao Wang, Chief Operating Officer of EHang, attended and witnessed the signing. Chen Guangcheng, Vice President of CAST, and Longxuan Hu, Senior Vice President of EHang and Chairman of EHang General Aviation, signed the strategic cooperation framework agreement on behalf of both parties.)