CHINA could soon become the first country in the world with flying taxis as part of Beijing's plan to develop what it calls the 'low-altitude economy'.
Beijing reckons there are big opportunities in the airspace about 1,000m and below, reports ABC News.
At December's central economic work conference, which sets China's national economic agenda, the so called 'low-altitude economy' was designated a 'strategic emerging industry'.
Aside from flying taxis, the sector includes businesses using both drones or crewed aircraft to do things like package delivery, drone light shows and rapid-response emergency services.
In China's tech capital Shenzhen, food deliveries by drone and helicopter taxi services are already a reality.
The sector was worth CNY500 billion (US$104 billion) to China's economy last year, and that's expected to increase to as much as CNY2 trillion by 2030.
The national government is providing both financial and policy support while about 20 provinces reportedly included measures to support the industry in their plans for this year.
For years, tech companies have been striving to get a commercial electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) service off the ground.
Able to fly over congested cities, eVTOLs are like a cross between electric cars and drones and can be powered by renewable energy.
Several manufacturers around the world believe the technology is ready for short hop flying taxi services but they need to convince the world's regulators that they're safe.
Swinburne University of Technology Aerostructures Innovation Research Hub director Adriano Di Pietro said having eVTOLs in Beijing's economic plan was huge for the industry.
'From a Chinese perspective, it doesn't get any bigger than that in terms of backing from the government,' said Dr Di Pietro.
'They are heavily backing the players, with EHang probably the one in front in China at the moment.
'So when you look at this race, it's definitely not an even race. China is really going in aggressively into the market.'
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Beijing reckons there are big opportunities in the airspace about 1,000m and below, reports ABC News.
At December's central economic work conference, which sets China's national economic agenda, the so called 'low-altitude economy' was designated a 'strategic emerging industry'.
Aside from flying taxis, the sector includes businesses using both drones or crewed aircraft to do things like package delivery, drone light shows and rapid-response emergency services.
In China's tech capital Shenzhen, food deliveries by drone and helicopter taxi services are already a reality.
The sector was worth CNY500 billion (US$104 billion) to China's economy last year, and that's expected to increase to as much as CNY2 trillion by 2030.
The national government is providing both financial and policy support while about 20 provinces reportedly included measures to support the industry in their plans for this year.
For years, tech companies have been striving to get a commercial electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) service off the ground.
Able to fly over congested cities, eVTOLs are like a cross between electric cars and drones and can be powered by renewable energy.
Several manufacturers around the world believe the technology is ready for short hop flying taxi services but they need to convince the world's regulators that they're safe.
Swinburne University of Technology Aerostructures Innovation Research Hub director Adriano Di Pietro said having eVTOLs in Beijing's economic plan was huge for the industry.
'From a Chinese perspective, it doesn't get any bigger than that in terms of backing from the government,' said Dr Di Pietro.
'They are heavily backing the players, with EHang probably the one in front in China at the moment.
'So when you look at this race, it's definitely not an even race. China is really going in aggressively into the market.'
SeaNews Turkey
