(Yicai) Nov. 2 -- EHang Holdings, a Chinese autonomous aircraft manufacturer, has set up Europe's first center to advance the development of a type of unmanned and electric flying taxis in Spain, pending passenger operations.

The Urban Air Mobility Center for electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft is located inside the Lleida–Alguaire International Airport, located around 150 kilometers west of Barcelona, the Guangzhou-based firm announced on WeChat yesterday. The UAM hub includes a vertiport, a defined area for take-off and landing of VTOLs. VTOLs, including helicopters, can depart, hover, and land vertically.

The vertiport is in full compliance with the design criteria of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency. It will enable effective integration with the airport terminal, platforms, control tower, equipment, procedures, and regulations, the Chinese firm said.

The UAM center shows the Chinese company's progress in eventually making unmanned flying taxis a reality in Europe. In April 2021, EHang signed a strategic cooperation agreement with state-owned Aeroports de Catalunya in fields including aerial logistics, take-off and landing infrastructure, and certification to promote unmanned, safe, and eco-friendly air mobility in European cities.

The new base will help EHang further develop its unmanned aircraft EH216-S, designed for passengers. Last month, the EH216-S became the world's first unmanned eVTOL to obtain the type certificate, issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China, and be qualified for commercial passenger-carrying operations in China.

The pioneering eVTOL has already completed a total of 40,000 hours of flights in Asia, Europe, and North America. The aircraft can accommodate two passengers with a range of 30 km and a flight speed as high as 130 km per hour, according to reports.

EHang is still burning through money as its net loss climbed by 3 percent to USD10.8 million in the second quarter from a year ago while revenue plunged by 35 percent to USD1.4 million, according to its latest financial report.

Editor: Emmi Laine