Chinese-based eVTOL developer EHang has announced a partnership with Prestige Aviation, further strengthening its ties in the Asian country.

The deal was announced at last week’s Indonesia International Motor Show 2022 event, which saw the Indonesian aviation company agree to purchase 100 EH216 autonomous aerial vehicles for passenger flights — this is EHang’s largest pre-order in Asia.

This latest agreement builds on EHang’s relationship with Prestige Aviation. Last year, the company purchased an EH216 aircraft to conduct demonstrations for aerial sightseeing in Bali, Indonesia.

Executive chairman Rudy Salim said Prestige Aviation will use EHang’s aircraft to support the country’s Smart City initiative. Indonesia plans to build a green and smart city in Nusantara, and relocate its current capital, Jakarta, to Nusantara in 2024.

“Indonesia is an archipelagic country with more than 17,000 islands within its borders,” Salim said in a press release. “Therefore, a new transportation mode that can facilitate inter-island mobility will undoubtedly help regional economies to grow exponentially, assisted by its low cost when compared to other conventional land routes.”

EHang’s EH216 series is a two-seat autonomous eVTOL aircraft that can be used for passenger services, aerial sightseeing, firefighting, or logistics. The company told shareholders last month that it planned to receive type certification for its passenger-carrying model from Chinese aviation authorities later this year.

Source: https://evtol.com/news/ehang-strengthens-ties-indonesia-pre-order-100-evtol-aircraft/