Taking flight

Emerging industries and technological innovation have driven economic growth not just in Shenzhen, but in all of Guangdong.

Ehang was created in 2014, and has been described as "a leader" in the drone-taxi industry with its autonomous aerial vehicle, the Ehang 184, claiming to be the world's first passenger drone. Based in Guangzhou its products have applications in passenger transportation, logistics, smart-city management and photography.

"From the supply chain and human resources to government policy support, Guangdong was an ideal place for us to start the urban air-mobility business, which is based around our core product, autonomous aerial vehicles," said Xiong Yifang, co-founder and chief marketing officer of Ehang.

Xiong had previously worked for a tech startup in Silicon Valley, and the travel back home gave him the idea for his company. "I flew frequently between China and the US, realizing that urban air mobility would be a new emerging business. Guangdong was the ideal place for us to start up the business," Xiong said.

He returned to China in early 2014 to start Ehang at a time when a national plan was announced to promote entrepreneurship and innovation as key drivers of the country's economic transition.

"We wanted to build our own brand in a complete new industrial area driven by technological innovation," Xiong said.

After several rounds of financings in recent years, the company has entered a fast growth period. Several agreements have been signed with international counterparts.

Ehang announced last month it would join with the Guangzhou government to build a low-altitude aviation transportation network for the Ehang 184.

"As an emerging business, urban air mobility will become a key growth engine for Ehang in the near future," Xiong said.

The network will shuttle passengers in a safe, fast, environmentally friendly, cost-efficient and intelligent way, according to Xiong. Trial flights should begin by the end of the year with plans to make the network operational within two years.

"Our mission is to make safe, autonomous and eco-friendly air mobility accessible to everyone. We will continue to explore the boundaries of the sky to make flying technologies beneficial to people living in smart cities," Xiong said.