EHang Deepens Partnership with Hefei Government to Establish VT35 Series Long-Range eVTOL Product Hub in Hefei

Rhea-AI Summary

EHang (NASDAQ:EH), the leading urban air mobility technology company, has announced a significant partnership with the Hefei government to establish a product hub for its VT35 series long-range eVTOL aircraft. The total investment is estimated at RMB 1 billion, with the Hefei government providing additional support valued at RMB 500 million through aircraft orders and industry chain cooperation.

The VT35, EHang's next-generation passenger-carrying eVTOL aircraft, is designed for medium to long-distance air mobility, including intercity and cross-terrain transport. The product hub will encompass R&D, testing, manufacturing, certification, and operations. The Type Certificate application for VT35 is currently under CAAC airworthiness review, having been accepted in February 2025.

Positive

• None.

Negative

• Significant capital investment required for new product hub development
• Multiple pending regulatory certifications still needed (TC, PC, AC, and OC)
• Execution risks in establishing new manufacturing and R&D facilities

GUANGZHOU, China, Aug. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EHang Holdings Limited (“EHang” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: EH), the world’s leading urban air mobility (“UAM”) technology platform company, today announced that it has signed an investment cooperation agreement with the Hefei government. Under the agreement, EHang will establish its product hub for the VT35 series in Hefei. The VT35 series is EHang’s new generation of long‑range, lift‑and‑cruise, pilotless, electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) products. The parties plan to jointly invest in and establish a comprehensive base for VT35 series products in Hefei, covering R&D, testing, manufacturing, airworthiness certification, supply chain management, sales, operations, and talent development.

This partnership represents a significant upgrade in EHang’s strategic layout at its East China Regional Headquarters in Hefei and accelerates industrialization of the VT35 series. The total investment in this partnership is estimated to be approximately RMB 1 billion. In addition, the Hefei government plans to provide EHang with comprehensive support valued at approximately RMB 500 million, including orders for eVTOL aircraft, investments, or other forms of cooperation across the industry chain.

The VT35 is EHang’s next-generation, long-range, lift-and-cruise, pilotless, passenger-carrying eVTOL aircraft. It is designed for medium- to long-distance air mobility, including intercity, cross-sea, and cross-mountain transport. Building on the VT30 prototype, the VT35 introduces major upgrades such as advanced autonomous flight control and propulsion systems. With EHang’s proprietary autonomous flight operation and command-and-control system technologies, the VT35 delivers breakthrough improvements in both design and reliability.

EHang’s Type Certificate (“TC”) application for the VT35 was officially accepted by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (“CAAC”) in February 2025 and is currently under airworthiness review process. EHang plans to carry out airworthiness certification work for the VT35 in Hefei, aiming to obtain the TC, Production Certificate (“PC”), and Standard Airworthiness Certificate (“AC”) for the VT35. Further, the Company will assist its joint venture Hefei Heyi Aviation Co., Ltd. in applying for the first Air Operator Certificate (“OC”) for the VT35. These efforts will enable a wide range of operations—including urban and intercity passenger transport, logistics, and emergency rescue in Hefei and the broader East China region.

Mr. Gaoyun Fei, Secretary of the CPC Hefei Municipal Committee, stated that EHang is a global leader in urban air mobility technology. In recent years, EHang has worked closely with Hefei, achieving growth together and making significant contributions to the city's low-altitude economy. Mr. Fei expressed hope that EHang will continue to grow in Hefei, strengthen cooperation with universities, research institutions and leading companies, and help bring more advanced technologies to the city. He also encouraged EHang to attract more high-quality projects, expand into areas such as logistics, fire protection, and tourism, and work together to improve the low-altitude economy's industrial ecosystem.

Mr. Huazhi Hu, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of EHang, remarked, “Since we partnered with Hefei in 2023, we have reached many important milestones. These include launching EH216-S commercial flights, achieving a breakthrough in solid-state lithium eVTOL battery technology, and establishing the VT35 series product hub. Each step brings our shared vision closer to reality. Hefei's strong supply chain and forward-thinking policies help us turn the city into a real-world innovation ground. Here, research and development, certification, manufacturing, and daily operations all happen together. By working with Hefei, we will speed up the development of safe and scalable advanced air mobility and drive high-quality growth in the region.”

About EHang
EHang (Nasdaq: EH) is the world’s leading urban air mobility (“UAM”) technology platform company. Our mission is to enable safe, autonomous, and eco-friendly air mobility accessible to everyone. EHang provides customers in various industries with unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) systems and solutions: air mobility (including passenger transportation and logistics), smart city management, and aerial media solutions. EHang’s flagship product EH216-S has obtained the world’s first type certificate, production certificate and standard airworthiness certificate for pilotless eVTOL issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (“CAAC”). In 2025, EH216-S eVTOL operators have been granted the first batch of Air Operator Certificates for human-carrying pilotless eVTOL flight services for mass consumers issued by the CAAC. As the forerunner of cutting-edge UAV technologies and commercial solutions in the global UAM industry, EHang continues to explore the boundaries of the sky to make flying technologies benefit our life in smart cities. For more information, please visit www.ehang.com.

Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains statements that may constitute “forward-looking” statements pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “aims,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “likely to” and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about management’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to those relating to certifications, our expectations regarding demand for, and market acceptance of, our products and solutions and the commercialization of UAM services, our relationships with strategic partners, and current litigation and potential litigation involving us. Management has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections. While they believe these expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections are reasonable, such forward-looking statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond management’s control. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause EHang’s actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

Investor Contact: ir@ehang.com
Media Contact: pr@ehang.com

FAQ

What is the total investment value of EHang's new VT35 product hub in Hefei?

The total investment is estimated at RMB 1 billion, with additional government support of RMB 500 million in various forms including aircraft orders and industry cooperation.

What certifications does EHang (NASDAQ:EH) need for the VT35 eVTOL aircraft?

EHang needs to obtain four key certifications: Type Certificate (TC), Production Certificate (PC), Standard Airworthiness Certificate (AC), and an Air Operator Certificate (OC) through its joint venture.

What are the main capabilities of EHang's VT35 eVTOL aircraft?

The VT35 is designed for medium to long-distance air mobility, including intercity, cross-sea, and cross-mountain transport, featuring advanced autonomous flight control and propulsion systems.

When did CAAC accept EHang's Type Certificate application for the VT35?

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) officially accepted EHang's Type Certificate application for the VT35 in February 2025.

What will EHang's new Hefei product hub include?

The hub will cover R&D, testing, manufacturing, airworthiness certification, supply chain management, sales, operations, and talent development for the VT35 series.