According to an eHang announcement, Zaragoza, Spain will become the fourth pilot city of the eHang air mobility program on April 28, 2021. Within the context of the UAM Strategic Partnership, eHang and Zaragoza City will collaborate to facilitate the introduction of Autonomous Aerial Vehicle (AAV) demonstration projects in passenger transportation, air tourism, air logistics, and other implementation scenarios. They’ll also work together on UAM infrastructure including command and control centers and vertiports. The aim of the participants in the agreement is to build an air transport center in the city in order to promote sustainable and ecological development of Zaragoza. As a member of the UIC2 in Europe, Zaragoza strongly supports the growth of urban air mobility. eHang will perform flight tests and pilot projects at the Hera Drone Hub and along the Ebro River in Zaragoza in the future, with the aim of advancing aerial transportation technology to the next level of progress. “The alliance with eHang will further propel the city of Zaragoza to become a pioneer and leader in UAM in Spain and Europe,” said Mr. Jorge Azcón Navarro, Mayor of Zaragoza. The public will be able to see the Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, a national art treasure in Zaragoza, not just from an Ebro river boat but also from passenger-grade Autonomous Aerial Vehicles (AAVs) flying over the river in the future. “Zaragoza is an important transportation center not only for Spain but also in Europe. eHang is dedicated to ensuring that everyone has access to clean, self-driving, and environmentally friendly air mobility. eHang will lead innovation and develop a sustainable and effective 3D air mobility solution for Zaragoza as the forerunner of cutting-edge AAV technology and know-how,” said the eHang Spain & Latin America CEO Victoria Xiang . She also added :“The collaboration will help Zaragoza residents by making life more enjoyable and environmentally friendly”.
EHang’s expanding partnerships with pilot cities around the world reflect an increasing network of aerial mobility hubs that will serve as launching pads for potential growth. Other aerial mobility companies have recently adopted EHang’s innovative strategy of collaborating directly with cities, and when electric aerial mobility aircraft begin operations, it is likely to garner more grassroots support from individual municipalities.