EHang announces strategic partnership with Qingdao West Coast New Area

EHang announced its strategic partnership with Qingdao West Coast New Area, one of China’s national new areas in Shandong province. This partnership comes with a binding US$10,000,000 equity investment and a potential additional investment of US$10,000,000 in the future. Through this strategic partnership, EHang plans to develop its AAV business and the urban air mobility, UAM, industry and market in Qingdao with the goal to make Qingdao a world-class UAM application demonstration area. Additionally, EHang intends to establish a Northeast Asia regional headquarters as well as a national firefighting business center in Qingdao West Coast New Area. As part of this partnership, Qingdao West Coast New Area’s investment arm will initially invest a total of US$10,000,000 in the Company through a private placement of newly issued Class A ordinary shares of the Company. The private placement is expected to close in the first quarter of 2023, subject to the receipt of certain investment-related regulatory approvals and clearances in China and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. Xin Fang, Chief Operating Officer of EHang, commented, "This strategic investment and business partnership is a significant milestone for EHang’s long-term growth. With more funding and strong product demands in the Qingdao local market, which is estimated to reach the level of RMB100 million in two years, EHang expects to accelerate the development of Qingdao’s AAV industry through new aviation business and low-altitude economy. We believe our cooperation will propel Qingdao to be a world-class, innovative UAM application demonstration area with comprehensive AAV industrial chains and commercial operations."