The facility will provide Ehang's eVTOLs, including the EH216-S, with a local demonstration flight site, ground infrastructure and maintenance base.

(Image credit: Ehang)

Chinese electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) developer Ehang (NASDAQ: EH) has built a flight demonstration base in Japan as it seeks to expand local operations.

Ehang's first unmanned aerial vehicle (UAM) center in Japan has been completed in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture, the company announced today.

The facility will provide a local demonstration flight site, ground infrastructure and maintenance base for Ehang's eVTOLs, including the EH216-S, the company said.

The EH216-S performed a demonstration flight at the site, showcasing its potential in an aerial sightseeing scenario, and was the eVTOL's first flight in the Kanto region of Japan, Ehang said.

The establishment of the UAM center is based on Ehang's strategic partnership with AirX Inc, a Japanese air traffic digital platform company.

The facility is located at the former Ibaraki prefectural government helicopter command and dispatch center, and its hangar can accommodate about 25 EH216-S aircraft, according to Ehang.

Its vertical takeoff and landing pad covers about 30,000 square meters and can be used by both helicopters and eVTOL aircrafts.

Ehang said it has been actively expanding its presence in the global market, with the EH216-S eVTOL flying in 12 cities in Japan to date.

The EH216-S demonstrates its use in scenarios such as air sightseeing, transportation, air logistics and emergency response, the company said.

John Matthews, founder and CEO of AirX, said the company plans to use the EH216-S eVTOL for air sightseeing services, and plans to open more UAM centers in Tokyo.

Ehang announced in October 2023 that the EH216-S had received the type certificate issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), thus qualifying it for commercial manned operations.

On February 2, Ehang announced the official guide price of the EH216-S in China will be RMB 2.39 million ($330,000), which will be effective from April 1, 2024.

($1 = RMB 7.2297)

eVTOL maker EHang prices its EH216-S unmanned aerial vehicle at about $333,000 in China