EHang 216 lands on the rooftop of a 25-story hospital in Hezhou, South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Photo: Courtesy of EHang

Chinese aerial drone maker EHang has signed an agreement with the local government of Seville, Spain to execute the first urban air mobility (UAM) pilot program in the city, according to a statement the firm sent to the Global Times on Tuesday.

The UAM program includes passenger transportation, air logistics and command and control platforms in Seville. The city will also collaborate on applications for permission to conduct test flights, in accordance with Spanish and European legislation, and will coordinate with EHang in the planning of flight routes, the company said.

UAM emerged as an efficient and eco-friendly solution for urban transport now. According to the European Commission's urban mobility report, over 60 percent of European citizens live in urban areas with over 10,000 inhabitants, and they are facing traffic congestion and air pollution. Traffic congestion in the EU costs nearly 100 billion euros ($111.8 billion) every year, accounting for 1 percent of the EU's GDP. 

A source close to the company told the Global Times on Tuesday: "It is hard to say whether the program's implementation will be delayed due to uncertainty, given the sharp rise in coronavirus cases in Spain and the overall situation in Europe."

Spain's confirmed coronavirus patients surged by more than 1,000 overnight. Total confirmed cases stood at 9,942 on Tuesday, the second-highest number of infections in Europe, after Italy. 

The Spanish government declared a national lockdown over the weekend in a bid to contain the spread of the virus, and the country's land borders were closed on Monday. 

Chinese high tech, from artificial intelligence (AI) cameras to drones, has been well applied in China to combat the virus.

"The possibility of applying EHang's aerial vehicles in Spain to fight the virus should not be excluded. However, given the current lockdown and restrictions on goods and people flows, it is quite hard to realize," the source said.

The Guangzhou-based start-up in February implemented real-world UAM applications in Hezhou, South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The EHang 216, a two-seater passenger-grade aerial vehicle, transported medical supplies from Hezhou Square to the Hezhou People's Hospital 4 kilometers away by accurately landing on a 25-story rooftop at the hospital. 

In addition to the transportation of medical supplies, the EHang 216 can also transport personnel in emergency situations.