EHang(US:EH) 光大证券研究·2025-03-31 08:36Core Viewpoint - The issuance of the Operational Certificate (OC) for the first manned civil unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in China marks the beginning of the low-altitude commercialization process, providing a significant opportunity for companies in this sector to gain a first-mover advantage [2][3]. Group 1: Operational Developments - Guangdong Yihang General Aviation Co., Ltd. and Hefei Heying Aviation Co., Ltd. received the OC from the Civil Aviation Administration of China, making them the first in the country to operate manned civil UAVs [2]. - The EH216-S, operated by these companies, is the world's first and China's only eVTOL aircraft with all three necessary certifications: Type Certificate (TC), Standard Airworthiness Certificate (AC), and Production Certificate (PC) [3]. Group 2: Financial Projections - Hefei Heying plans to launch "air taxi" sightseeing services, with initial ticket prices estimated between 300-500 RMB, potentially dropping to around 100 RMB with government subsidies. The projected annual revenue per aircraft could reach 3.2 million RMB, with a payback period of approximately 2.7 years [4]. Group 3: Strategic Partnerships and Models - Hefei Heying is a joint venture between Hefei State-owned Assets and Yihang Intelligent, which positions them favorably for future low-altitude infrastructure tenders, route approvals, and funding support [5]. - The collaboration with local government to establish the Luogang Air Traffic Hub explores a "government provides land, enterprise operates, revenue sharing" model, addressing the high investment challenges in low-altitude infrastructure [5]. Group 4: Future Developments - There is an expectation for rapid progress in the certification of manned sightseeing and cargo-level eVTOLs this year, with a focus on the OC certification developments in other regions and the progress of other companies like Peak Flying and Wolong Sky [6]. - Yihang plans to expand its production capacity significantly, aiming for an annual output of 1,000 aircraft by the end of 2025 through partnerships with companies like Inbol and solid-state battery firms [7]. Group 5: Technological Advancements - The EH216-S has shown a significant improvement in flight endurance, with a 90% increase, now exceeding 48 minutes, thanks to the integration of solid-state lithium batteries [8].