Chinese electric aircraft manufacturers aim for Asian and African markets

According to the website of Hong Kong's South China Morning Post on January 6th, as part of efforts to develop a low altitude economy, China will seek to promote the export of electric aircraft and expand overseas production capacity

The RX4E Ruixiang four seater electric aircraft was developed by Liaoning General Aviation Research Institute, with a target market mainly in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa

Xu Xingli, Chairman of Hong Kong Green Fly Company, who signed a cooperation agreement with the research institute for overseas market promotion activities, said that Indonesia and Malaysia are both potential export markets. Indonesia has tens of thousands of islands

According to reports, the Ruixiang series is also expected to be introduced to the United Arab Emirates, and Green Fly also hopes to utilize its network established in Africa. The company stated that it plans to commercialize this aircraft, including manufacturing operations, in approximately 15 countries and regions

Green Fly Company signed a cooperation agreement with relevant departments in Kenya in 2023 to help introduce green aviation into the country

Xu Xingli said, "Electric aircraft are designed to meet the needs of local residents, especially in countries with insufficient road infrastructure." He added that the RX4E is a new electric aircraft launched by the Ruixiang series and is also a replaceable battery aircraft

Xu Xingli believes that another major selling point of RX4E is its potential for commercial use, with possible application scenarios including logistics, medical emergencies, pilot training, island tourism, ecotourism, regional commuting, aerial photography, and aerial surveying

He stated, "We also plan to collaborate with local partners to produce the Ruixiang series green aircraft on various continents." The RX4E made its maiden flight in 2019, according to reports. Since then, the project has accumulated over 1200 operating hours and completed 1800 takeoffs and landings

Not long ago, RX4E obtained the model certificate issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China. According to the developers, this is also the first pure electric normal class aircraft developed in China in accordance with CCAR-23 Airworthiness Regulations for Normal Class Aircraft

The report states that this is also in line with China's strategy to develop a low altitude economy, which involves both manned and unmanned aircraft, including cargo and passenger drones, as well as electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft and electric short takeoff and landing aircraft

According to relevant departments' estimates, by 2030, the scale of China's low altitude economy will rise from 500 billion yuan in 2023 to about 2 trillion yuan

In late December 2024, the National Development and Reform Commission established a new department to regulate the industry. Many economic center cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, have introduced policies to develop this industry

Shenzhen Technology Center announced in 2024 that it plans to invest billions of yuan in low altitude infrastructure construction in the coming years

According to the report, Xu Xingli believes that as consumers begin to raise environmental awareness, the demand for green transportation will increase, thereby driving global demand growth

He said, "We believe that the size of China's domestic market, coupled with mature manufacturing capabilities and supply chains, will put China in a favorable position in exporting technology to other parts of the world