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CITIC Offshore Helicopter and Lilium partner on eVTOL network in China

Lilium, a developer of all-electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) jets, and CITIC Offshore Helicopter Co. Ltd (COHC), China’s sole helicopter port pilotage provider, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish of an eVTOL operation network in China, starting with the Greater Bay Area.

As part of the agreement, Lilium and COHC will work together to develop services in the region based on market demand, and eventually offer regular eVTOL services. This will initially commence in the Greater Bay Area, with additional planned service across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Hainan Island, and Tianjin in the future. The services include strategically selecting production bases, conducting test flights, implementing after-sales service protocols, and identifying potential sites of interest and partners for vertiports.

The news – announced on Nov. 24 – follows Lilium’s partnership with other suppliers in the China region, including an agreement with Heli-Eastern and an MoU with the Bao’an District of Shenzhen municipality.

“The partnership highlights the shared aspirations of COHC and Lilium to create a sustainable and efficient aerial transportation system that addresses the growing demand for premium regional mobility solutions,” Lilium CEO Klaus Roewe said in a news release. “China is expected to account for close to 25 per cent of the eVTOL market and this announcement reaffirms our commitment to the region and desire to bring fast and sustainable travel to more people and to offer outstanding flight experiences for our customers.”