China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) held the first plenary meeting of the Low-altitude Industry Development Leading Group to clarify the development direction of the emerging industry. The group studied and assigned key tasks for promoting the high-quality development of the low-altitude industry. China's low-altitude industry is showing breakthroughs in technologies and equipment, while also expanding application scenarios. MIIT vowed to enhance the development of infrastructure, policies and financial support for the low-altitude economy. Leading enterprises and products of the industry will receive prioritized treatment.
Meanwhile, the Transport Department of Shenzhen in Guangdong province released a draft action plan for supporting the high-quality development of the low-altitude economy, seeking public feedback. The draft listed direct financial support for specific low-altitude enterprises that relates to the research, development, and manufacturing of electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL) and large to medium-sized unmanned aerial vehicles of up to CNY20 million. The low-altitude economy refers to cargo and passenger transport by drone or aerial vehicles at an altitude of up to 1,000 meters. As of June 30 this year, the number of registered drones in China totaled 1.875 million, and the number of operating companies surpassed 14,000, China Media Group reported. The low-altitude economy was defined as a strategic emerging industry at the annual Central Economic Work Conference (CEWC) in 2023 and mentioned in this year's Government Work Report as a new growth engine, the Global Times reports.
In Hong Kong, Kwoon Chung Smart Mobility, a subsidiary of Kwoon Chung Bus Holdings, plans to provide tours lasting about 30 minutes around Hong Kong in pilotless drones supplied by a company in Shenzhen. Smart Mobility is waiting for a regulatory framework to be enacted in Hong Kong. The Peninsula Hong Kong hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui, which has a heliport on its roof offering guests a 18-minute helicopter tour of the southern part of the city, is also interested in introducing the company’s passenger drones because they are much quieter than helicopters, the South China Morning Post adds.
