EHang Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: EH) has entered a strategic cooperation framework agreement with China Construction Sixth Engineering Bureau Corp., Ltd. to develop low-altitude infrastructure and operational scenarios. The partnership marks a move to integrate advanced air mobility technology with state-owned enterprise engineering capabilities, specifically targeting the development of eVTOL vertiports and general aviation airports. The initiative begins with the Cross-Sea Low-Altitude Corridor Project in Lingao, Hainan.

The agreement leverages China Construction Sixth Engineering Bureau’s strengths in industrial chain resources and infrastructure development. EHang will contribute its expertise in research and development, airworthiness certification, and operations of pilotless passenger-grade electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The collaboration aims to establish a closed-loop low-altitude economy ecosystem that integrates infrastructure with commercial operations.

Project Implementation Details

The Lingao project is the first initiative under the partnership. Hainan Fuma General Aviation serves as the project owner, while China Construction Sixth Engineering Bureau acts as the main constructor. EHang provides joint planning for infrastructure and operational sites, along with aircraft, operational services, and technical support.

Centered around the Maniao General Aviation Airport, the project will develop multiple eVTOL operational sites and vertiports along Lingao’s coastline. Plans include implementing point-to-point passenger eVTOL routes and cross-sea shuttle services. The first key flight station, WingHub South Sea, is currently under construction. It will feature an operations and exhibition center, vertiports compatible with EHang’s pilotless eVTOL aircraft, and testing zones.

The rollout will occur in phases:

• Initial phase: aerial sightseeing, low-altitude logistics, training, and testing.
• Expansion phase: cross-sea passenger transport.

Strategic Context and Validation

In December 2025, EHang’s EH216-S completed a 22-kilometer cross-sea flight across the Qiongzhou Strait in 18 minutes. The flight ran from Haikou in Hainan to Xuwen Port in Guangdong, validating the technical capabilities and efficiency of pilotless eVTOLs in cross-sea applications.

Hainan’s 15th Five-Year Comprehensive Transportation Plan calls for the development of island-wide and cross-sea low-altitude route networks. The plan includes upgrades to general aviation airports and the construction of low-altitude vertical take-off and landing infrastructure. The Maniao General Aviation Airport in Lingao is included among 36 major low-altitude infrastructure projects in this plan.

Upon completion, the airport is expected to support point-to-point eVTOL flights between Lingao in Hainan and Xuwen in Guangdong. This would serve as the key base of an "aerial express corridor" across the inter-provincial Qiongzhou Strait.

What the Numbers Show

The partnership aligns EHang’s certified aircraft capabilities with large-scale infrastructure execution. The source data highlights a direct linkage between technical validation and infrastructure planning. The EH216-S completed a 22-kilometer cross-sea flight in 18 minutes in December 2025. This specific performance metric validates the feasibility of the planned "aerial express corridor" between Hainan and Guangdong, which relies on similar cross-sea operational parameters. The inclusion of the Maniao General Aviation Airport in Hainan’s 36 major low-altitude infrastructure projects under the 15th Five-Year Plan further anchors the private sector partnership within a broader public policy framework.

EHang Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: EH) announced the launch of its Global Fast Track Program, a structured pathway designed to accelerate the assessment and introduction of pilotless electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) operations in international markets. The initiative aims to compress regulatory timelines from years to months by leveraging the company’s existing certifications and operational experience. Sri Lanka has become the first country to adopt the program, with the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) and the Ministry of Ports and Civil Aviation agreeing to a framework that targets initial sandbox commercialization within four months.

Strategic Framework

The Global Fast Track Program is built upon EHang’s complete type, production, and standard airworthiness certificates for its pilotless passenger eVTOL aircraft, alongside its commercial operating experience in China and safe flight records across 23 countries. The framework distills practical experience accumulated through engagements with multiple civil aviation authorities into a replicable, four-phase roadmap:

1. Framework alignment: establishment of regulatory workflow and definition of validation pathway.
2. Sandbox build-out: designation of sites, deployment of infrastructure, and implementation of ground operations systems.
3. Validation flights: conduct of sandbox flights in accordance with established safety standards.
4. Commercial launch: operational approval and commencement of commercial service.

This approach allows international civil aviation authorities to validate an already-certified aircraft rather than starting the certification process from scratch, aiming to streamline the path from regulatory engagement to commercial operations.

Sri Lanka Adoption Details

Sri Lanka’s adoption marks the inaugural implementation of the Fast Track Program. The timeline for sandbox commercialization remains subject to the successful completion of mandatory regulatory, technical, operational, and safety assessments. EHang has held multi-round discussions with cross-government stakeholders, including ministries of defense, tourism, investment, and aviation services.

Initial operations will focus on a designated sandbox zone centered on Port City in Colombo. Potential routes under consideration include scenic flights over Sigiriya and Pidurangala rock fortresses, as well as shuttle services connecting Katunayake Airport to hotels in central Colombo. The company is also exploring unmanned maritime cargo logistics applications. EHang will provide the eVTOL aircraft, operation systems, technical services, and personnel training.

Leadership Commentary

Hon. Anura Karunathilaka, Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation and Minister of Energy, stated that Sri Lanka is actively embracing emerging aviation technologies to transform its tourism industry and strengthen emergency response capabilities. He noted that the Fast Track Program offers a structured approach aligning with national development priorities.

Capt. Daminda Rambukwella, Director-General and CEO of CAASL, confirmed the authority’s adoption of EHang’s proposals to establish the first eVTOL sandbox in Sri Lanka. He emphasized that the four-month target reflects the proposed implementation timeline and maintains a strong focus on regulatory compliance and aviation safety standards.

Mr. Hu Huazhi, Founder, Chairman and CEO of EHang, described the program as a breakthrough for unlocking international eVTOL markets. He highlighted that the framework enables civil aviation authorities to turn regulatory exploration into actionable progress by validating existing certifications. EHang is currently in active dialogue with civil aviation authorities in several other markets.