https://www.scmp.com/rss/519196/feed "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. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Ling Xin Ling Xin Chinese researchers say they have built an 11-satellite network for a jam-resistant, high-accuracy optical navigation system, designed to provide positioning where GPS is unavailable or disrupted, for everything from self-driving cars and drones to deep-space missions. Optical navigation has also been used in the ongoing US-Israeli war with Iran, helping drones developed by companies such as Asio Technologies and General Atomics operate in environments where GPS signals are jammed. While... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3348318/lighthouses-space-chinese-jam-proof-satellite-network-fill-gps-gaps?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3348318/lighthouses-space-chinese-jam-proof-satellite-network-fill-gps-gaps?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 02:01:05 +0000 Jane Lee Jane Lee China’s 15th five-year plan is about to make commercial aerospace a mainstream pillar of national development, and Hong Kong cannot afford to miss this opportunity. Whether the city can translate this national push into concrete local strengths will become a test of its ability to integrate with – and contribute to – China’s next wave of strategic industries. Commercial aerospace has moved to a full-scale strategic policy in just a few years, sitting at the intersection of satellites,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3347794/can-hong-kong-hitch-ride-chinas-commercial-aerospace-wave?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3347794/can-hong-kong-hitch-ride-chinas-commercial-aerospace-wave?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 21:30:10 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong authorities have received more than 100 applications for innovative drone usage to pioneer the city’s “low-altitude economy”, with some pilot projects set to launch as early as in three months, the transport minister has said. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan also pledged to push more advanced transport technologies to transition from trials to everyday use in 2026. In a blog post on the Transport and Logistics Bureau’s website on Saturday, Chan said “the industry... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3347425/flying-start-low-altitude-economy-goals-100-drone-projects-proposed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3347425/flying-start-low-altitude-economy-goals-100-drone-projects-proposed?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2026 09:32:48 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao Chinese aviation start-up AutoFlight, backed by electric vehicle (EV) battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL), is emblematic of mainland China’s ambitions in the flying car market, part of the country’s broader push to dominate the low-altitude economy. The Shanghai-based company on Thursday unveiled Matrix, a five-tonne (11,000lbs) class electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, which it described as the largest of its kind in the world after completing a flight... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3342801/autoflight-unveils-worlds-largest-flying-car-china-races-lead-low-altitude-economy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3342801/autoflight-unveils-worlds-largest-flying-car-china-races-lead-low-altitude-economy?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Feb 2026 06:30:08 +0000 Regina Ip Regina Ip At this time of year, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po’s top priority is finalising the Hong Kong government’s budget for 2026-27, balancing requests for incentives and welfare against calls for a return to fiscal prudence. For decades, budget speeches have followed a familiar structure: a review of past performance, near- and medium-term forecasts, support measures for industries and social services, a report on the government’s fiscal position and financial estimates for the coming year.... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3342610/hong-kongs-budget-should-move-city-towards-inspirational-development?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3342610/hong-kongs-budget-should-move-city-towards-inspirational-development?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Feb 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong authorities will launch a pilot scheme to test firefighting drones, with the aim of deploying the equipment in operations once the technology has matured, the security minister has said. Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung made the remarks on Wednesday while answering lawmakers’ questions on fire safety in the Legislative Council, following the Tai Po blaze in November that claimed 168 lives. Tang said drones in Hong Kong were used only to analyse fire scenes, while mainland... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3341525/hong-kong-test-firefighting-drones-pilot-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3341525/hong-kong-test-firefighting-drones-pilot-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Jan 2026 07:41:28 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei The People’s Liberation Army has released fresh details of its tests of AI-enabled drone swarm warfare, saying a single soldier can control a swarm of more than 200 drones. In a defence news programme aired on Tuesday, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV released details of a drone swarm test conducted by the PLA-affiliated National University of Defence Technology. Drone swarm warfare relies on artificial intelligence and data links to launch hundreds of drones in a short time. These drones could... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3340972/1-soldier-200-drones-china-showcases-rapid-launch-and-agility-swarm-warfare-tactics?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3340972/1-soldier-200-drones-china-showcases-rapid-launch-and-agility-swarm-warfare-tactics?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Jan 2026 10:00:15 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng The municipal government of Shanghai will open “free-to-fly” zones in the city for drones from February 1, as part of streamlined regulations designed to support the country’s development of a low-altitude economy. According to Shanghai’s new guidelines for civil unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), consumer drones will be allowed to fly in certain “suitable airspace” in the city without prior declaration, provided these devices are registered. These include UAVs categorised as micro, light and... https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3340696/shanghai-open-free-fly-zones-covering-46-city-consumer-drones?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3340696/shanghai-open-free-fly-zones-covering-46-city-consumer-drones?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jan 2026 10:15:08 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li Hong Kong’s transport minister has outlined plans to develop a blueprint for the nascent low-altitude sector, with local industry players partnering mainland Chinese firms for their first joint overseas trip to explore belt and road markets. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said on Monday that the blueprint would cover cross-border electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL) that ferry goods and passengers. Speaking at the Second Low-Altitude Summit at the University... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3340460/hong-kong-develop-low-altitude-sector-blueprint-firms-eye-overseas-expansion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3340460/hong-kong-develop-low-altitude-sector-blueprint-firms-eye-overseas-expansion?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 Jan 2026 12:48:42 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing On a sunny afternoon in late November, hundreds of onlookers gathered beside a picturesque lake near Shanghai as a massive silver drone lifted off silently from the deck of a cutting-edge vessel, marking the dawn of a new chapter for the low-altitude economy in both mainland China and Hong Kong. The demonstration at Dianshan Lake, which straddles the border between Shanghai and Suzhou, felt like a scene from a science fiction film as the “Sunship”, a mobile water-based vertiport, made its global... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3339236/drone-age-hi-tech-wizardry-propels-hong-kong-towards-lift?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3339236/drone-age-hi-tech-wizardry-propels-hong-kong-towards-lift?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Jan 2026 00:30:14 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Thousands of passenger and cargo air taxis could be flying across Hong Kong within a decade as the low-altitude economy takes off, according to one of mainland China’s largest drone makers, which hopes to launch operations in the city. AutoFlight senior vice-president Kellen Tse told the Post the electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft manufacturer plans to significantly expand in Hong Kong, potentially paving the way for its international headquarters in the city. Backed by... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3339203/thousands-passenger-cargo-drones-will-fill-hong-kong-skies-decade-expert-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3339203/thousands-passenger-cargo-drones-will-fill-hong-kong-skies-decade-expert-says?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Jan 2026 23:30:11 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang The key to achieving wartime victory through expendable drones lies in “saturation attacks based on numerical superiority”, the official paper of the People’s Liberation Army has said as the Chinese military speeds up its development of unmanned systems. In a commentary on Tuesday titled “Exploring the Winning Formula for Unmanned Attrition Warfare”, the PLA Daily said that it would be imperative to “flexibly deploy low-cost unmanned systems to continuously deplete the opponent’s high-value... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3337513/saturation-attacks-drone-swarms-key-wartime-victory-chinese-military-outlet-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3337513/saturation-attacks-drone-swarms-key-wartime-victory-chinese-military-outlet-says?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Dec 2025 10:38:33 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat After drones were flown in China at heights above 8,000 metres (26,247 feet) – approaching that of Mount Everest – the authorities are moving to crack down on illegal flights that threaten the safety of commercial aviation. The controversy highlights the regulatory dilemma China faces as it pushes to develop a low-altitude economy while ensuring aviation safety. Industry insiders say that with technological progress and upgraded oversight, China may eventually allow drones to fly as high as... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3337084/chinas-black-flying-drone-dilemma-when-tech-advancement-clashes-aviation-safety?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3337084/chinas-black-flying-drone-dilemma-when-tech-advancement-clashes-aviation-safety?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Dec 2025 10:00:16 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong plans to deploy large passenger-carrying drones within the next two to three years as part of its drive to become a regional hub for the low-altitude economy, a senior official has said, predicting the aircraft will be significantly cheaper than current helicopter services. Dominic Chow Wing-hang, deputy director general of civil aviation, outlined the road map on Saturday at a conference in Beijing, which focused on how Hong Kong and Macau could leverage their advantages to benefit... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3336372/hong-kong-aims-launch-passenger-carrying-drones-2-3-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3336372/hong-kong-aims-launch-passenger-carrying-drones-2-3-years?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Dec 2025 07:41:02 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang China’s massive aerial drone carrier the Jiu Tian has completed its first flight, adding to the potential swarming capacities of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). The Jiu Tian, which is itself a large drone, took to the air for the first time in the northwestern province of Shaanxi, state news agency Xinhua said on Thursday. The report did not mention when this took place. Designed by the First Aircraft Institute of the state-owned aerospace giant Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC),... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3336098/first-flight-chinas-giant-drone-carrier-jiu-tian-signals-pla-swarm-capacity-boost?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3336098/first-flight-chinas-giant-drone-carrier-jiu-tian-signals-pla-swarm-capacity-boost?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Dec 2025 13:20:05 +0000 Xinyi Wu Xinyi Wu This document was translated from Chinese into English using Alibaba’s Qwen3, then checked and tweaked for accuracy by a Post journalist. It is for reference only, and is not the official English version of the original Chinese document. Alibaba owns the South China Morning Post. https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3332457/state-councils-13-measures-promote-private-investment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3332457/state-councils-13-measures-promote-private-investment?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Nov 2025 07:26:42 +0000 Xinyi Wu Xinyi Wu China has unveiled new measures designed to channel private capital into traditionally state-funded infrastructure projects, as Beijing steps up efforts to reduce investment restrictions and bolster the private economy. The 13-point document released on Monday by China’s cabinet, the State Council, includes measures to encourage private investment in major projects in a range of sectors – from power generation to transport. “Private investment serves as a key barometer reflecting economic... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3332323/rail-nuclear-power-china-taps-private-capital-fund-major-projects?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3332323/rail-nuclear-power-china-taps-private-capital-fund-major-projects?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Nov 2025 08:00:04 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen A Chinese Chinook-style unmanned helicopter capable of operating in extreme conditions – from the Himalayas to the South China Sea – has successfully completed its maiden flight, according to its maker. The Boying T1400 heavy-lift tandem-rotor drone, developed by the privately owned United Aircraft Technology, is expected to significantly boost resupply capabilities to areas such as high-altitude regions and seas. The aircraft, which superficially resembles the US Army’s Boeing Chinook CH-47... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3331501/chinas-chinook-style-heavy-duty-helicopter-drone-makes-debut-successful-test-flight?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3331501/chinas-chinook-style-heavy-duty-helicopter-drone-makes-debut-successful-test-flight?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 04 Nov 2025 10:29:38 +0000 Harvey Kong Harvey Kong Hong Kong rail operator the MTR Corporation is testing the use of drones for tasks such as tunnel inspections to slash the time to complete “repetitive” and “tedious” jobs. The tests, carried out in the tunnel from Admiralty to the Exhibition Centre station on the East Rail line, have been proceeding satisfactorily, according to the rail giant. It is also planning to apply to authorities to expand the tests to cover open sections of the line. The MTR said the trial was one of 38 “sandbox”... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3330119/hong-kongs-mtr-corporation-testing-drones-railway-tunnels-cut-tedious-work?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3330119/hong-kongs-mtr-corporation-testing-drones-railway-tunnels-cut-tedious-work?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Oct 2025 02:00:09 +0000 Harvey Kong Harvey Kong Hong Kong will roll out an action plan next year to develop its low-altitude economy, and passenger drone trials could begin once approved by the civil aviation chief, the deputy financial secretary has said. Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong Wai-lun announced the plan at the International Low-Altitude Economy Summit on Thursday, while lawmaker Elizabeth Quat Pei-fan said after the event that a key challenge for the sector was turning projects from the government’s regulatory sandbox into... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3328428/action-plan-develop-hong-kongs-low-altitude-economy-lift-next-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3328428/action-plan-develop-hong-kongs-low-altitude-economy-lift-next-year?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Oct 2025 15:19:09 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu A new drone pilot project has cut the delivery time for urgent medical supplies to a Hong Kong hospital on an outlying island by two-thirds, from 65 minutes via ferry to 20 minutes by air. The project, part of a low-altitude economy regulatory “sandbox” launched by the government in March, is a collaboration between the Hospital Authority and logistics firm SF Express, aiming to provide a faster and more efficient alternative to ferries, which are subject to scheduling constraints that could... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3325482/drone-sends-medical-supplies-hong-kong-island-cheung-chau-20-minutes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3325482/drone-sends-medical-supplies-hong-kong-island-cheung-chau-20-minutes?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Sep 2025 08:03:50 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings A made-in-China automated electric air taxi took off in Africa for the first time this week, as a new generation of Chinese low-altitude aircraft attracts growing interest from global buyers. The product on show was a pilotless electric take-off and landing vehicle (eVTOL) made by EHang Holdings, a Nasdaq-listed tech company from the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou. It took to the skies during the Aviation Africa Summit and Exhibition, a major industry event involving 34 countries that was... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3324491/chinese-flying-taxi-takes-skies-africa-firms-eye-global-roll-out?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3324491/chinese-flying-taxi-takes-skies-africa-firms-eye-global-roll-out?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Sep 2025 04:00:13 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Dreame Technology, a Chinese brand known for its robot vacuum cleaners, is actively recruiting drone experts in what is seen as a move to compete with DJI, the dominant player in the market, amid growing competition from innovative hardware start-ups. The company is advertising at least 10 positions – including drone navigation modelling algorithm engineer, drone test pilot, drone operations sales director and business director for the pan-aviation industry – according to job postings on the... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3322510/dji-faces-new-challenger-chinas-robot-vacuum-maker-dreame-hires-drone-experts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3322510/dji-faces-new-challenger-chinas-robot-vacuum-maker-dreame-hires-drone-experts?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 Aug 2025 12:00:08 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Antigravity, a drone brand incubated by China’s leading full-degree camera manufacturer Insta360, on Thursday unveiled its first product – the Antigravity A1 featuring a built-in 8K 360-degree camera and pilot goggles. The machine is equipped with a dual-lens camera system mounted on both the top and bottom of its fuselage – a design that mirrors the capabilities of Insta360’s popular X series action cameras, providing complete environmental capture without any blind spots, according to... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3321795/insta360s-antigravity-unveils-8k-full-degree-drone-challenging-dji?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3321795/insta360s-antigravity-unveils-8k-full-degree-drone-challenging-dji?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Aug 2025 13:00:09 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng The consumer drone industry is facing new competition from China, as Antigravity – a new brand from omnidirectional camera specialist Insta360, is set to unveil its first product. Scheduled to be unveiled in August, the unmanned aerial vehicle weighs less than 249 grams and features a built-in 360-degree camera with 8K resolution, according to the company. That would make it the industry’s first “360 drone”: until now, users have resorted to attaching full-degree cameras to their flying... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3319994/insta360s-antigravity-challenges-dji-8k-360-degree-drone?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3319994/insta360s-antigravity-challenges-dji-8k-360-degree-drone?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Jul 2025 11:00:18 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au Two trial projects for drone operations will concentrate on hillside and slope monitoring services, with relevant skills expected to be widely used by next year in an effort to prevent landslides and develop the low-altitude economy, Hong Kong authorities have said. The Development Bureau said on Sunday that the Geotechnical Engineering Office had been using drones to help with its work, including inspecting landslide sites, sowing seeds for vegetation in such areas and conducting research. “The... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3315375/2-hong-kong-pilot-schemes-testing-drones-landslide-prevention-operations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3315375/2-hong-kong-pilot-schemes-testing-drones-landslide-prevention-operations?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Jun 2025 06:06:14 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial There is life after trade wars. Shenzhen, whose tech industries are vulnerable to US sanctions, is a case in point. Mainland authorities have outlined reforms to accelerate the development of hi-tech emerging industries in the city, for wider adoption across China. They include a detailed 15-point plan to accelerate the roll-out of digital healthcare solutions in the city, including streamlined approvals for AI-powered medical devices. The reforms would enhance Shenzhen’s ability to create... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3314527/shenzhens-rise-both-challenge-and-opportunity-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3314527/shenzhens-rise-both-challenge-and-opportunity-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Jun 2025 22:15:14 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren The Hong Kong government plans to permit more businesses to test higher-capacity aerial vehicles, aiming to boost the low-altitude economy and assess their impact on logistics efficiency and traffic, Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong Wai-lun said. Speaking to more than 100 government officials, company executives, venture capitalists and researchers at the International Automotive & Supply Chain Expo on Friday, he said losses were possible even though these drones are expected to create a... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3314383/hong-kong-allow-drone-trials-higher-payloads-boost-low-altitude-economy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3314383/hong-kong-allow-drone-trials-higher-payloads-boost-low-altitude-economy?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Jun 2025 12:03:06 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Hong Kong police have launched their first drone patrols in urban settings, with the unmanned aerial vehicles able to inspect an area the size of 13 football pitches in 25 minutes. The force on Friday deployed a drone to cover a 96,000 square metre area around Yau Ma Tei and Jordan in Kowloon. Carlos Shum Lap-chi, operations officer in Yau Tsim police district, said the patrol area bordered Dundas Street, Nathan Road and a section of Waterloo Road in Yau Ma Tei, as well as Ferry Street in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3313449/hong-kong-police-launch-first-drone-patrols-urban-areas?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3313449/hong-kong-police-launch-first-drone-patrols-urban-areas?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Jun 2025 16:09:39 +0000 Harvey Kong Harvey Kong Food delivery in Hong Kong has reached a new height as a major provider has started to use drones to send out orders, cutting the waiting time by 35 minutes. The service, provided by Keeta Drone, a subsidiary of mainland Chinese food delivery giant Meituan, delivers orders from two fast-food restaurants in Science Park to a landing zone on Ma On Shan Promenade. The operator said it was planning to expand the service to other locations in the new town using the company’s automatic kiosk... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3313404/hong-kongs-food-delivery-scene-soars-drone-services-ma-shan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3313404/hong-kongs-food-delivery-scene-soars-drone-services-ma-shan?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Jun 2025 12:41:13 +0000 Yujie Xue Yujie Xue Flying taxis could be used for public transport within the next five years on the mainland, according to a senior executive of Chinese passenger drone maker EHang Holdings. “I believe that by 2030, China will likely have fixed-route air shuttle services,” chief financial officer Conor Yang said in an interview on Tuesday. “It’s also possible that in some cities, with sufficient infrastructure such as take-off and landing points, air taxi services could emerge.” The Nasdaq-listed developer of... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3311216/chinese-drone-maker-ehang-sees-flying-taxis-take-2030-mainland?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3311216/chinese-drone-maker-ehang-sees-flying-taxis-take-2030-mainland?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 May 2025 23:30:08 +0000 Oren Tatcher Oren Tatcher “Chinese carmakers race to build early advantage in flying car ventures” read a headline in this newspaper last week, reporting on the latest efforts by the companies to become leaders in the “low-altitude economy”. This buzz phrase, which encompasses everything from drone deliveries to autonomous flying taxis, seems to be viewed in Beijing as an important technological frontier. Not to be left behind, Hong Kong recently announced plans for cross-border electric vertical take-off and landing... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3310869/hong-kongs-vision-low-altitude-economy-needs-urban-reality-check?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3310869/hong-kongs-vision-low-altitude-economy-needs-urban-reality-check?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 May 2025 01:30:07 +0000 Victoria Bela Victoria Bela A Chinese student’s microdrone has set a Guinness World Record in southern China while racing through the air at the speed of a high-speed train. The Prowess microdrone, weighing less than 250 grams (8.8 ounces), reached 340.78km/h (211.75mph), setting a world record for remote-controlled microdrone quadcopters. The record was broken by model aircraft enthusiast Xu Yang on March 23 in Huizhou, Guangdong province, according to a WeChat post by Guinness World Records on Monday. According to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3310463/chinese-student-xu-yang-breaks-impossible-microdrone-world-speed-record?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3310463/chinese-student-xu-yang-breaks-impossible-microdrone-world-speed-record?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 May 2025 00:00:08 +0000 Yujie Xue,Daniel Ren Yujie Xue,Daniel Ren Some of China’s biggest carmakers, from the iconic Hongqi or Red Flag to Geely Auto and Tesla rival Xpeng, are competing on a new front – flying cars – to build a first-mover advantage as sales of electric vehicles begin to saturate. Front-runners like AeroHT, an affiliate of Xpeng, are edging closer to commercialising their drone businesses amid Beijing’s support for the so-called low-altitude mobility economy, spearheading innovations in the global air-travel industry. AeroHT last week filed... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3310367/chinese-carmakers-race-build-early-advantage-flying-car-ventures-after-ev-rivalry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3310367/chinese-carmakers-race-build-early-advantage-flying-car-ventures-after-ev-rivalry?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 May 2025 00:00:33 +0000 Cannix Yau Cannix Yau With Hong Kong’s colourful drone shows becoming an attraction for tourists, operators have said the city can fly high by staging performances with more than 9,000 of them, displaying fireworks and laser lights, and using more venues to boost the economy. Drone providers also expressed hope that the government would draw on their experience and relax laws to allow the budding industry to fully exploit technological capabilities, as the first batch of pilot drone projects were recently selected to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3309032/hong-kong-drone-operators-want-less-red-tape-stage-bigger-shows-expand-uses?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3309032/hong-kong-drone-operators-want-less-red-tape-stage-bigger-shows-expand-uses?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 May 2025 02:00:27 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Chinese developers of small aircraft for uncrewed low-altitude cargo and passenger flights are exploring foreign markets for long-term diversification, including the United States despite newly imposed 145 per cent import tariffs. An expected rise in demand abroad has put countries from Brazil to the United Arab Emirates on the radars of Chinese firms that make everything from drones the size of a tablet PC to self-piloting e-taxis that can seat a person. “The acceptance rate is higher... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3306859/chinese-developers-low-altitude-aircraft-set-sights-us-even-high-tariffs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3306859/chinese-developers-low-altitude-aircraft-set-sights-us-even-high-tariffs?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 17 Apr 2025 07:00:08 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen China has unveiled the world’s first close-in anti-drone barrage weapon system, a groundbreaking innovation against drone swarms and high-speed missiles, according to its developer. The Bullet Curtain system, developed by China’s largest arms maker Norinco, employs a unique “plane-to-point” interception method, creating a wall of projectiles to blanket incoming targets with overlapping firepower. It was revealed in the April edition of the Norinco publication Modern Weaponry. “Imagine the target... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3306199/chinese-weapons-giant-develops-anti-drone-barrage-system-counter-wartime-swarm-tactics?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3306199/chinese-weapons-giant-develops-anti-drone-barrage-system-counter-wartime-swarm-tactics?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 11 Apr 2025 14:00:11 +0000 China has taken a major step towards creating a commercial flying taxi industry, after regulators granted the country’s first-ever approvals for two companies to operate autonomous passenger drones. The two companies – Nasdaq-listed EHang Holdings and Hefei Hey Airlines – obtained air operator certificates from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) on Saturday, according to state-run news agency Xinhua. The move means that both companies are cleared to use unmanned aerial vehicles to... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3304580/flying-taxis-prepare-lift-china-first-companies-gain-key-licence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3304580/flying-taxis-prepare-lift-china-first-companies-gain-key-licence?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 31 Mar 2025 12:30:20 +0000 Enoch Wong Enoch Wong AI improvements have slashed mission response times for China’s latest attack drone and are enabling it to work seamlessly with stealth fighters. That was the assessment of former PLA instructor Song Zhongping after state broadcaster CCTV aired footage earlier this month of the Caihong-9 (Rainbow-9) – China’s latest medium-to-high altitude, long-endurance drone – during a public flight trial at an airfield in northern Shaanxi. The televised segment, which was part of a broader programme on... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3304542/ai-autonomy-and-endurance-chinas-rainbow-9-drone-expected-change-unmanned-warfare?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3304542/ai-autonomy-and-endurance-chinas-rainbow-9-drone-expected-change-unmanned-warfare?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 31 Mar 2025 06:27:16 +0000 Hong Kong is on the cusp of a transformative shift as it embraces the low-altitude economy, a rapidly growing sector poised to revolutionise industries, reshape urban landscapes and redefine modern living. Advances in artificial intelligence, intelligent networks and human-computer interaction are driving the integration of autonomous aerial vehicles and drones into everyday life. Globally, the low-altitude economy is emerging as a high-growth industry. In China, the sector is expected to reach... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3303788/low-altitude-economy-can-soar-if-hong-kong-plays-its-strengths?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3303788/low-altitude-economy-can-soar-if-hong-kong-plays-its-strengths?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Mar 2025 01:30:09 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Hong Kong authorities plan to amend laws to allow passenger drone flights as part of the next phase of trials to develop the low-altitude economy, which will take a step forward next month with tests of food deliveries by air. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan unveiled more details about the second phase of testing on Sunday, including an expanded operating range. The government earlier announced it would carry out more than 30 trial projects involving drones over the next six... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3303523/hong-kong-change-laws-allow-passenger-drone-flights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3303523/hong-kong-change-laws-allow-passenger-drone-flights?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 23 Mar 2025 10:48:50 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li Hong Kong’s drone-based trial runs to develop a low-altitude economy will put safety first by requiring testing of the devices to be conducted within the direct eyeline of operators. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said on Friday that 38 projects were selected from among 72 applications and would cover activities such as logistics, air traffic management, emergency rescue, parcel delivery and infrastructure inspection. “Initially, the flying will be conducted step by step within... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3303322/hong-kongs-drone-tests-low-altitude-economy-follow-line-sight-rule?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3303322/hong-kongs-drone-tests-low-altitude-economy-follow-line-sight-rule?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Mar 2025 07:48:52 +0000 China’s first unmanned transport aircraft capable of hauling over 1 ton of goods has completed its maiden flight and is expected to enter into commercial operation next year. The TP1000, built by a local state-owned enterprise, took off for the first time on Saturday in Qingdao, the capital of eastern China’s Shandong province, according to a website run by the Civil Aviation Administration of China. The huge device has a greater capacity and longer range than any previous transport drone in... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3302689/china-tests-huge-transport-drone-capable-airlifting-over-1-ton-goods?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3302689/china-tests-huge-transport-drone-capable-airlifting-over-1-ton-goods?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Mar 2025 12:30:15 +0000 Jiang Chuqin Jiang Chuqin An alliance promoting the low-altitude economy in Hong Kong has called on the government to quickly approve projects for a regulatory sandbox and allow test flights to begin in the first quarter of this year to accelerate the sector’s development. The projects backed by the Greater Bay Area Low Altitude Economy Alliance on Friday involved using drones to deliver medicine to remote areas, conduct building inspections and identify injured riders on coastal cycling paths. The uses for the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3296216/launch-hong-kongs-first-drone-economy-projects-first-quarter-alliance-urges?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3296216/launch-hong-kongs-first-drone-economy-projects-first-quarter-alliance-urges?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Jan 2025 12:43:59 +0000 Jevans Nyabiage Jevans Nyabiage China is looking to start electric aircraft exports this year and develop offshore production as part of its drive to develop the so-called low-altitude economy. The RX4E, a four-seater electric aircraft made by Rhyxeon General Aircraft Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Liaoning General Aviation Academy, is being targeted at Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Indonesia, which has more than 17,000 islands, and Malaysia are among the potential export markets, according Henry Hooi... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3293568/chinese-electric-plane-maker-rhyxeon-zooms-markets-africa-and-asia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3293568/chinese-electric-plane-maker-rhyxeon-zooms-markets-africa-and-asia?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Jan 2025 07:34:16 +0000 Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification To successfully coexist with China, America needs to first understand and respond to itself. This is crucial as China continues to grow into a global peer. With all the debate about decoupling and... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3292888/understand-china-america-must-first-reckon-itself?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3292888/understand-china-america-must-first-reckon-itself?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Jan 2025 03:30:08 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng DJI, the world’s biggest maker of consumer drones, intends to build a new global headquarters for its intelligent aviation systems operation in its home city of Shenzhen, according to a plan released recently by the southern tech hub’s municipal government. The plan involves DJI’s acquisition of a 15,658-square-metre plot inside the Shenzhen Bay Super Headquarters Base, a waterfront business and financial centre under development in the city’s Nanshan district. The project’s total construction... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3292953/chinas-top-drone-maker-dji-build-global-headquarters-shenzhens-new-city-centre?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3292953/chinas-top-drone-maker-dji-build-global-headquarters-shenzhens-new-city-centre?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Jan 2025 02:00:18 +0000 China has set up a new department to oversee its low-altitude economy, in a landmark boost to the fast-expanding sector as the country seeks new growth drivers for 2025. China’s top economic planning body introduced the Low-Altitude Economy Development Division on its website on Friday, according to state news agency Xinhua. The division would be “responsible for formulating and implementing development strategies and medium- to long-term plans” for the sector, as well as “provide relevant... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3292646/china-launches-low-altitude-economy-unit-drive-2025-growth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3292646/china-launches-low-altitude-economy-unit-drive-2025-growth?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:00:10 +0000 Jiang Chuqin Jiang Chuqin A trial programme on drone operations in Hong Kong will focus on services involving smaller devices for emergency and rescue, inspection and maintenance, delivery and surveillance – rather than light shows – as the first step in building a low-altitude economy, according to authorities. The Transport and Logistics Bureau and Civil Aviation Department jointly said the initial phase of the Low-altitude Economy Regulatory Sandbox would centre on operations involving smaller drones, and on easing... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3292174/low-altitude-economy-pilot-programme-will-focus-smaller-drone-services?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3292174/low-altitude-economy-pilot-programme-will-focus-smaller-drone-services?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Dec 2024 09:58:42 +0000 Jiang Chuqin Jiang Chuqin Two companies have signed a memorandum with Hong Kong Polytechnic University to release a drone take-off probability forecast tool next year and develop anti-jamming technology for the devices, following the cancellation of two highly anticipated shows over the National Day holiday due to meteorological factors. The Drone Takeoff Reliability Index, which will consider multiple factors including weather, real-time astronomical data and the distribution of satellites, is designed to provide a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3291364/2-firms-work-hong-kongs-polyu-new-drone-take-forecast-tool?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3291364/2-firms-work-hong-kongs-polyu-new-drone-take-forecast-tool?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Dec 2024 08:47:37 +0000