News Briefs: Aerofugia, EHang et al.
Including, FAW Group, GOVY, YIVTOL, XPeng AeroHT, and KuickWheel.
Aerofugia to Establish East China HQ in Hangzhou’s Xiaoshan District
June 15, 2025 —Aerofugia has announced a strategic cooperation agreement with Hangzhou’s Xiaoshan District and Hangzhou Low-Altitude Industry Development Co., Ltd., officially launching its East China regional headquarters project.
Inked on June 15, the agreement outlines collaboration in low-altitude aircraft research, manufacturing, and delivery. The partnership aims to leverage each side’s strengths to accelerate development of the region’s low-altitude economy and innovation ecosystem.
According to Aerofugia, the initiative marks a key step in regional public-private collaboration, supporting East China and the Greater Bay Area’s push to lead in low-altitude economy innovation.
Xiaoshan District, for its part, is expanding infrastructure to position itself as a hub for low-altitude aviation and artificial intelligence, aiming to attract leading enterprises and secure early-mover advantages, the company said.
FAW Flying Car HQ Project to Be Based in Shenzhen’s Dapeng New District
June 14, 2025 — According to local media reports, China FAW Group has officially selected Shenzhen’s Dapeng New District as the site for its global “flying car” headquarters.
The announcement follows the signing of a cooperation framework agreement between FAW, the Dapeng New District government, the Shenzhen Municipal Industry and Information Technology Bureau, and the Shenzhen Transport Bureau.
As reported, FAW will establish a new entity—FAW Qiyi (Shenzhen) Technology Co., Ltd. (一汽旗翼（深圳）科技有限公司)—to lead efforts in R&D, manufacturing, testing, and operations. The company plans to gradually build out related infrastructure, including research centers, production facilities, and service hubs in the district.
By integrating automotive and aviation manufacturing capabilities, FAW will focus on key technical areas such as overall design of flying cars and eVTOLs, powertrain systems, flight control systems, avionics, and airworthiness safety.
The project will also explore digital R&D tools to enhance performance and safety, with the goal of building a full-lifecycle industrial ecosystem.
The initiative is expected to leverage Shenzhen’s industrial strengths to advance FAW’s low-altitude mobility ambitions and support the region’s innovation ecosystem.
Video: FAW Group
In April, FAW unveiled the Sky Sedan 1, a modular split-body eVTOL aircraft under its luxury brand Hongqi. The model is expected to conduct its maiden flight later this year.
The Sky Sedan 1 is designed for a flight range of over 200 kilometers (approximately 124 miles) and a top speed of 150 kilometers per hour (about 93 mph). The cabin features an intelligent interface system with voice and image recognition for real-time information and simplified operations.
A product video suggests the aircraft is intended for urban transport, emergency medical services, and offshore industry use.
Abu Dhabi Advances Urban Air Mobility with EH216-S Demo
MLG’s Advanced Mobility Hub described the test as a key milestone in developing a regional eVTOL ecosystem. ADIO added that it continues to support global innovators aiming to expand from Abu Dhabi into regional and international markets. Video: Abu Dhabi Media Office
June 13, 2025 — The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), supported by the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council (SASC), conducted a public test flight of the EH216-S in partnership with EHang and Multi Level Group (MLG), marking a step forward in Abu Dhabi’s urban air mobility efforts.
The test evaluated key capabilities, including hot-weather performance, airspace coordination, route planning, and vertiport operations. The demonstration was overseen by the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).
ADIO said the test aligns with the emirate’s strategy to advance intelligent transport and develop a future-ready regulatory and infrastructure ecosystem. The initiative also supports economic diversification through emerging mobility technologies.
For its part, EHang will establish regional operations in Abu Dhabi, including a final assembly line and support facilities, in partnership with MLG and supported by ADIO.
GOVY’s AirCab Receives Nearly 1,000 Pre-Orders Within a Day
June 13, 2025 — A day after launching its multirotor eVTOL aircraft, the GOVY AirCab, GOVY announced it had received nearly 1,000 pre-orders.
The company also reiterated plans to begin demonstration operations in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao region this year, with deliveries expected by the end of 2026.
Operating under its “One-Click Reassuring Mobility” concept, GOVY said it is advancing the low-altitude economy by pursuing two technical pathways: short-range multirotor and intercity composite-wing vehicles.
The company added it is leveraging its proprietary technologies, smart customer engagement platforms, and a mature automotive industry chain ecosystem to build an integrated system covering R&D, production, and operations.
GOVY identified Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou as ideal testing grounds for eVTOL aircraft, citing strong air mobility demand, robust industrial infrastructure, and potential for cross-border collaboration.
Parrot Aero Launches VoltWhirl eVTOL with 200+ Global Pre-Orders
Video: Parrot Aero
June 12, 2025 —Shenzhen Yingwu General Aviation Co., Ltd. — aka Parrot Aero — aka YIVTOL — unveiled the Yingwu Smart Y100 “VoltWhirl” single-seat ultra-light eVTOL aircraft at the Hong Kong International Auto Expo.
The company launched global pre-sales during the event, securing over 200 pre-orders from more than 10 countries and regions, including Hong Kong, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
According to the company’s website, the aircraft is priced at 280,000 RMB (approximately $39,000 USD).
Co-Founder Chen Yuan said in a press release that the VoltWhirl has completed product testing, scenario validation, and small-batch production trials.
The company has partnered with seven cities—including Shenzhen, Chengdu, Luoyang, and Wuhan—to establish low-altitude demonstration bases with operational permits, with the first bases expected to launch in Q3 2025.
Chen added that Hong Kong serves as a strategic hub for accessing emerging markets, international capital, and shipping networks while adhering to strict aviation standards. This positioning supports Parrot Aero’s plans for global expansion and product development.
Author’s Note — Parrot Aero now has an official website showcasing their products, including three additional eVTOL aircraft models—AeroPilot X, ParoFly, and AvioNex. Please note that the names of these aircraft may be approximate due to possible translation inaccuracies.
The AeroPilot X has a planned top speed of 70 km/h (43 mph), a flight time of 30 minutes, a flight range of 35 km (22 miles), and a payload capacity of 90 kg (198 lbs).
The ParoFly has a planned flight range of 35 km (22 miles), a payload capacity of 90 kg (198 lbs), a top speed of 70 km/h (43 mph), and a flight time of 30 minutes.
The AvioNex has a planned top speed of 70 km/h (43 mph), a flight time of 30 minutes, a flight range of 35 km (22 miles), and a payload capacity of 90 kg (198 lbs).
National Innovation Center Supports China’s First Wireless Test for Flying Car
June 6 – The National Innovation Center for Intelligent and Connected Vehicles announced it has supported XPeng AeroHT in completing China’s first wireless communication performance test for a “flying car.”
Conducted at the Innovation Center’s Vehicle Wireless Communication Laboratory, the tests evaluated the onboard wireless system performance of the Land Aircraft Carrier's air module under real-world flight conditions.
The Innovation Center noted that as wireless communication becomes increasingly critical in next-generation vehicles, it introduces new technical challenges—including low latency, high reliability, and precise synchronization.
Air mobility environments and vehicle body structures further complicate signal transmission and antenna performance.
To address these issues, the teams conducted the following tests—
Passive performance testing of the full-vehicle antenna system
Active performance testing of the full-vehicle antenna system
Signal coexistence testing across the entire communication system
Receiver sensitivity degradation testing for the communication system
The evaluations simulated multiple flight conditions, including both upright and inverted orientations. The tests covered a range of communication technologies such as 4G, 5G, WiFi, Bluetooth, and GNSS.
All wireless modules on the air module underwent detailed assessment to ensure data accuracy and system reliability. According to the Innovation Center, the results will help improve communication performance and enhance operational safety for XPeng AeroHT’s eVTOL aircraft models.
The Vehicle Wireless Communication Laboratory specializes in addressing mobile communication challenges in intelligent and connected vehicles (ICVs). Its services include diagnosing wireless communication issues, providing performance analysis, and supporting automotive R&D.
The lab said it has supported over 20 automakers to date, helping reduce reliance on field testing and accelerate development cycles.
KuickWheel Skyrider X6 Listed at 498,800 Yuan on JD.com
Video: Airspace Compass
In my June 13 newsletter, I noted that KuickWheel had begun offering pre-sales for the Skyrider X6 through JD.com—one of China’s largest e-commerce platforms. At the time, I was unable to access the price due to login issues.
Thanks to the social media account Airspace Compass, the listed price is now confirmed at 498,800 yuan (roughly $70,000 USD).I later learned that the Skyrider X6 was auctioned on JD.com’s platform, where it sold for 427,300 RMB (roughly $60,000 USD) after 4 hours and 54 rounds of bidding.
