China's flying taxi makes first flight in Africa
What's the story
A Chinese-made electric air taxi has taken off in Africa for the first time. The pilotless electric take-off and landing vehicle (eVTOL) was developed by EHang Holdings, a tech company based in Guangzhou, China. The historic flight took place during the Aviation Africa Summit and Exhibition held in Kigali, Rwanda on Thursday and Friday.
Flight details
The event saw participation from 34 countries
The Aviation Africa Summit and Exhibition saw participation from 34 countries and was held in Kigali, Rwanda. The test flight of the eVTOL was organized by Rwanda in collaboration with China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), a state-owned construction and engineering firm from China.
Strategic partnership
Rwanda is actively seeking investment and technology partners
The partnership between Rwanda and CRBC is aimed at positioning the African nation as a leader in adopting advanced aviation technology. Rwanda, which has a population of 14.2 million and a growing tourism industry, is looking to improve its air transport systems to reduce urban congestion and air pollution. The country is actively seeking "investment and technology partners" to boost its air mobility sector.