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Low-altitude economy

University of Hong Kong to launch master’s degree in low-altitude economy in 2025

Professor Huang Lixi says course will mainly focus on three aspects: hardware, software, and economic aspects and policies.

11 Nov 2024 - 6:28PM

China’s low-altitude economy is all the buzz, so where are the tangible results?

6 Nov 2024 - 6:30PMvideocam

Flying cars, drones to take off in Shenzhen with US$1.7 billion investment

6 Nov 2024 - 5:00PMvideocam

Flying over Hong Kong in passenger drones? Firm says just waiting on approval

Subsidiary of Kwoon Chung Bus Holdings seeking first-mover advantage with fleet of 30 uncrewed drones undergoing test flights over border.

6 Nov 2024 - 8:25PM

Kwoon Chung Smart Mobility managing director Rex Wong at AsiaWorld-Expo. Photo: Dickson Lee

Hong Kong to help low-altitude economy take flight with legislative shake-up

City leader John Lee also discusses aviation in latest policy address, reveals third runway to be completed this year.

16 Oct 2024 - 8:54PMvideocam

How high can the low-altitude economy soar as US, China battle for supremacy?

Low-altitude economy is seen a new growth engine for China, highlighted by demonstrations during the recent week-long National Day holiday.

10 Oct 2024 - 8:47AMvideocam

Meituan’s delivery workers earn US$11 billion in 2023, CEO says

CEO Wang Xing’s internal announcement reflects Meituan’s efforts to address mainland policymakers’ concerns over the welfare of gig workers.

18 Sep 2024 - 6:00PM

About 4.5 million of Meituan’s more than 7 million delivery workers are covered with insurance for occupational injury. Photo: Shutterstock

China’s low-altitude economy adds ‘new track’ with home-grown blimp delivery

China’s first home-grown ‘civil manned airship’ blimp has been delivered to a client in the southern Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

25 Sep 2024 - 6:21PMvideocam

Explainer | What’s the buzz around China’s low-altitude economy?

From drone deliveries and surveillance to flying cars and tourism, technology for manned and unmanned aviation applications is being rapidly embraced across China.

26 Aug 2024 - 11:44PMvideocam

China’s low-altitude economy spreads wings as struggling locales look skyward

The economic model has been elevated to new heights nationwide as struggling regional governments vie for a piece of the pie in the sky.

26 Aug 2024 - 10:00AMvideocam

A light-sport aircraft is readied in China’s Shandong province last month. Photo: Xinhua

Chinese EV battery maker CATL invests in ‘flying car’ developer AutoFlight

The largest maker of electric car batteries is investing millions of dollars into the aerial vehicle firm as China’s low-altitude economy takes flight.

5 Aug 2024 - 6:00PM

AutoFlight’s five-seat Prosperity electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle seen in Shenzhen on February 27, 2024. Photo: Xinhua

Shanghai seeks AI, humanoid robotics, low-altitude economy upgrade by 2027

Shanghai will look to attract AI companies, build a humanoid robot manufacturing innovation centre and test low-altitude industrial logistics by 2027.

26 Jul 2024 - 5:00PMvideocam

China moves closer to launching flying taxi services as EHang seeks Beijing’s go-ahead

Chinese flying taxi maker EHang’s latest certification process marks the final step before it enters the domestic market for urban air mobility services.

23 Jul 2024 - 6:00PMvideocam

Reach for the sky: China’s low-altitude economic plans see UAVs surge by 48%

China is pushing for the ‘low-altitude economy’ to foster high-value jobs, bolster innovation in science and technology and inject momentum into the overall economy.

11 Jul 2024 - 8:12PMvideocam

A total of 608,000 new unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were registered in China in the first six months of the year. Photo: Xinhua

Xpeng’s AeroHT affiliate to price first flying car at US$200,000

The company expects to begin deliveries at the end of next year and aims to sell 5,000 units, as China’s low-altitude economy takes flight.

5 Jul 2024 - 5:34PMvideocam

An Xpeng AeroHT flying car hovers during a demonstration flight at the company’s headquarters in Panyu District of Guangzhou, in south China’s Guangdong Province, on May 15, 2024. Photo: Xinhua

Hong Kong should tap tech firms in ‘low-altitude economy’ push: observers

Role of private companies highlighted in development of neighbouring Shenzhen’s drone delivery and transport operations.

4 Jul 2024 - 8:06PM

Hong Kong exploring use of drones for goods delivery: transport official

Government looking at Northern Metropolis, Kau Yi Chau artificial islands as sites for pilot projects, as both have sufficient open spaces.

3 Jul 2024 - 8:50PM

Late for a meeting? No problem! Shenzhen adds heli-transfer at railway station

Travellers arriving at Shenzhen North rail station can connect within the southern tech hub via helicopter amid China’s ‘low-altitude economy’ push.

4 Jul 2024 - 9:01AMvideocam

A purpose-built 314 square metre (3,380 sq ft) helipad offers travellers the oppourtunity to connect quickly within the southern tech hub of Shenzhen. Photo: Shenzhen Metro

Global aviation firms hope Beijing business is unscathed by China-EU trade rows

Rising trade tensions trigger concern about potential retaliatory measures from Beijing, including against the aviation sector.

18 Jun 2024 - 11:40PMvideocam

Chinese EV maker Xpeng’s flying car takes first flight in Beijing

X2, a flying car made by Xpeng affiliate AeroHT, took off at Beijing Daxing International Airport, as the firm moves closer to commercialising its aircraft.

16 Jun 2024 - 7:02PM

China’s aviation leader puts cargo drone to test amid industry push

Uncrewed vehicles are essential to China’s low-altitude economy, which the government has bolstered with policies and regulations since 2021.

14 Jun 2024 - 4:03PMvideocam

A prototype of China’s HH-100 aerial commercial cargo drone is pictured in Xian where is completed a successful maiden flight, AVIC announced. Photo: AVIC via Xinhua

Hong Kong must address drone safety worries and laws before wider use: John Lee

Lawmakers have urged government to follow mainland China’s lead and embrace crewless aircraft to transport tourists and make food deliveries.

13 Jun 2024 - 10:36PM

A pilotless passenger drone on display in Guangzhou. One lawmaker has said Hong Kong could use the uncrewed aircraft to take tourists on sightseeing flights. Photo: Xinhua

China’s top science institute restructured to focus on research frontiers

Chinese Academy of Sciences undergoes organisational overhaul as Beijing pushes original innovation in bid to become tech superpower.

11 Jul 2024 - 2:31AM

Chinese province looking to ‘flying taxis’ to give tourist industry wings

Shanxi is investing in electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles and drone deliveries as part of a national effort to boost the ‘low altitude economy’.

3 Jun 2024 - 9:18AMvideocam

Chinese air taxi maker EHang completes first flight in Middle East

The company’s flagship EH216-S autonomous flying vehicle took off in Abu Dhabi, as part of a plan to launch commercial flights in the UAE.

7 May 2024 - 8:30PMvideocam

Ehang says its EH216-S aerial vehicle completed the United Arab Emirates’ first passenger-carrying demo flight in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Handout

EVs might fly in China as Xpeng’s affiliate aims for Q4 presales

AeroHT, an affiliate of Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng, has started the countdown for the commercialisation of its flying car and plans to start taking pre-orders in the fourth quarter of this year.

27 Apr 2024 - 6:38AMvideocam

AeroHT says it will target individuals and explore efficient, safe and carbon-neutral mobility solutions that go beyond EVs. Photo: Handout

Drone delivery service launches in China’s Greater Bay Area

Flight between Zhongshan and megacity of Shenzhen takes around 45 minutes and costs 40 yuan (US$5.60) per order, according to UAV-maker Phoenix Wings, which is backed by Chinese logistics giant SF Express.

14 Apr 2024 - 3:00PMvideocam

China’s eVTOL craft gets clearance as ‘low-altitude economy’ prepped for launch

China has granted production approval for its first electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle, cementing its progress in the rapidly expanding field of manned and unmanned flight at low altitudes.

10 Apr 2024 - 4:10PMvideocam

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Low-altitude economy

"Low altitude" refers to airspace 1 kilometre (0.6 miles) above the surface of the Earth; the low-altitude economy encompasses all airborne economic activity within this sphere, including drones and flying cars. This has been an area of growing interest for countries around the world, with China's low-altitude economy having been predicted by one firm in March 2024 to hit 2 trillion yuan (then around US$280 billion) by 2030.

last updated:

26 August, 2024