UAM company EHang Holdings has signed a cooperation framework agreement with Zhejiang Sunriver Culture and Tourism (Sunriver), a China A-share listed company, to explore an industrial model that integrates the low-altitude economy with cultural tourism in China. Under the agreement, Sunriver plans to purchase 50 units of the EH216-S or similar pilotless passenger-carrying aircraft from EHang for its cultural tourism projects based on market development needs. Sunriver has placed a purchase order for five units of the EH216-S as the first batch for aerial tourism use cases. The remaining aircraft will be gradually deployed in the tourism attractions under the Sunriver.

Sunriver, with its parent company Sunriver Holding Group, has invested and operated over 40 renowned tourist attractions in China, including Bailong Elevator and Huanglong Cave in Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province, Phoenix Ancient Town and Mang Mountain in Hunan Province, Bifeng Canyon in Ya'an City, Sichuan Province, Qiyun Mountain in Anhui Province and Danxia Mountain in Guangdong Province. It has established a distinctive cultural tourism industry model integrated cultural IPs, tourism and technologies, and provides consumers with rich and diversified cultural and tourism products and high-quality, comforting and convenient travel experiences through its platform Sunriver Travel. Its goal is to leverage EHang's pilotless electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to conduct aerial sightseeing services at various tourism destinations under its management. This initiative is expected to create smart low-altitude tourism models for over 40 destinations and further strengthen market competitiveness and the influence of Sunriver's product.

EHang will leverage its first-mover advantages in R&D, production, manufacturing and operations in the pilotless passenger-carrying aerial vehicle sector to provide full-spectrum assistance to Sunriver in the commercialisation of low-altitude tourism, including technical support and operational guidance. This partnership aims to help Sunriver create an innovative model for smart tourism at scenic locations as well as establish a strategic presence for EHang's EH216-S and other eVTOLs in high-quality and popular scenic areas throughout China by providing tourists with smarter, more comfortable and convenient low-altitude sightseeing experiences, driving the growth of the low-altitude tourism market.

Sunriver chairman Heng Wang states: “Our mission at Sunriver has always been to enrich life through the synergy of culture, tourism and technology. We are constantly exploring how these fields can evolve together. The application of the EH216-S in the cultural tourism sector not only offers visitors unique perspectives and experiences but also further advances the intelligent transformation of the cultural tourism industry, bringing cost-effectiveness and operational efficiency to low-altitude tourism sightseeing. We are confident in the growth potential of the low-altitude economy within the cultural tourism sector and look forward to a mutually beneficial partnership with EHang. Together, we look ahead to leveraging our respective strengths to accelerate the nationwide strategic deployment of an integrated low-altitude cultural tourism model and to achieve profitability in low-altitude sightseeing business across scenic areas.”

Ehang CFO Conor Yang adds: “Our partnership with Sunriver marks a significant step forward in EHang's strategic expansion in smart low-altitude tourism. We're excited to work together and look forward to being at the forefront of advancing commercial operations at scale of low-altitude tourism in China's many premier scenic spots. Our aim is to provide tourists with safer, autonomous and eco-friendly low-altitude cultural tourism experiences, driving innovation and sustainable growth within the low-altitude tourism industry. Together, we will set up benchmark projects for the smart low-altitude tourism and create brand value for Chinese pilotless eVTOL in cultural tourism industry.”