‘Brazil has enormous potential for flying cars’, says director of Chinese company EHang | Estadão Mobility | Electric Planet

José Ignacio Rexach Vega, commercial director for Europe and Latin America at EHang, Chinese flying car manufacturer, visited the eVTOL Expo, held in São Paulo in May, and liked what he saw. After participating in many meetings and forums, he concluded that the Brazilian market has a lot of potential to absorb aircraft, which are expected to revolutionize global urban mobility.

Also know: Flying cars: which Brazilian cities can receive eVTOL

Vega is optimistic about the new scenario of eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles) that is beginning to take shape, as revealed in the interview with Mobilidade.

José Ignacio Rexach Vega, commercial director for Europe and Latin America at EHang,

After attending the eVTOL Expo, what assessment do you make about Brazilians’ interest in so-called flying cars?

Enthusiasm is so great that the event will probably be split into two in 2025. Global demand has followed the level of aircraft development and Brazil is no different. This feeling reflects awareness of more sustainable and safe mobility.

But, in practice, what is the potential of this market?

We are talking about a market that, according to estimates, could generate US$ 1 trillion by 2040, with services, passenger transportation and logistics activities. In addition, there is technical support and after-sales around the world.

In Brazil, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro together represent a sales portfolio of 10,000 units, with potential revenue of US$7.3 billion by 2040. In a preliminary calculation, a 30-kilometer trip should cost US$100 per person . The reduction will be gradual as technology advances and demand increases.

The operation of eVTOL in Brazil does not run the risk of running into bureaucracy, due to the delay in approving the Anac (National Civil Aviation Agency)?

Approval is never a quick process. Where there is no aeronautical industry it is even more complicated, because authorities take time to understand the complexity of the project.

Fortunately, this is not the case in Brazil. Europe, Japan and countries in the Middle East are also in the approval stages. China faced a long road before eVTOL was allowed to operate. Bureaucracy exists in all countries, it is natural because we are facing a completely innovative technology.

Are companies in the sector in agreement with Anac to accelerate certification?

I myself have already met with Anac representatives, we have been talking for many months and they are completely familiar with the technology. I believe that, by the end of the year, the Agency will approve flying cars in the country, which would allow flights to begin in 2025.

Congestion is so severe that we urgently need to offer other sustainable means of transport. It’s a matter of necessity.

In your opinion, will Brazilian users embrace the flying car at first or will they view the vehicle with some suspicion?

There are experiences that can only be had aboard an eVTOL, which presents agility and speed in urban electromobility. I am convinced that the market will multiply quickly. Just mature a little more and gain confidence.

Even without permission to fly, do manufacturers already face a lot of competition to sell their equipment in Brazil?

EHang is the first eVTOL manufacturer in the world and we rely on our experience. I do not consider, for example, the Eve Air Mobility, an arm of Embraer, a direct competitor.

With a range of 30 kilometers, our eVTOL is capable of transporting one person. Eve’s is for longer distances, takes four passengers and flies 200 kilometers with a full battery charge.

How is EHang operating in Brazil?

The company Gohobby negotiates our aircraft in the country. By the end of May, it had 15 orders and, on one of the days of the eVTOL Expo, it made two sales.

In Brazil, our flying car costs approximately R$3 million. Globally, EHang delivered 263 units of the EH216 series in the first four months.

Are there other EHang partners around the world?

We maintain an agreement with the Chinese state-owned Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC) towards strengthening EHang’s eVTOL intelligent production capacity.

Last year, GAC ranked 49th among the 500 largest Chinese companies and its work covers the areas of research and development, vehicles, components, trade and travel, energy and ecology, internationalization and investment and finance. This helps us apply more know-how to the development of the EH216.

Sector in a countdown mood

Expo eVTOL, Latin America’s main flying car fair, was marked by a countdown atmosphere. All event participants (such as manufacturers Eve Air Mobility, EHang, Vertical Connect and Moya and operators Goal It is Blue) are counting down the days for aircraft to start flying in Brazil, which is expected to happen in two years.

Gol and Azul state that the initial focus will be on intraregional flights, with trips starting from 150 kilometers away.

According to Camilo Oliveira, from Azul’s institutional relations area, there is a gap in travel with destinations between 100 and 400 kilometers and it is in this niche that the company wants to operate.

For Sergio Quito, president of Gol’s safety and flight operations board, the challenge is to consolidate the infrastructure, “as the helipads are not enough to serve eVTOLs”, he says.

Read too: Flying car. Flying by eVTOL will be cheaper than by helicopter

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Author: Daniela Saragiotto