The low-altitude economy has been written into the government work report for three consecutive years, accelerating concepts like eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft) from the lab to reality. As a key component of strategic emerging industries, eVTOL not only carries the imagination of future transportation transformation but also drives the coordinated development of multiple sectors, including aviation manufacturing, intelligent transportation, and infrastructure construction, becoming a vital direction for cultivating new productive forces.
On July 17th, XW Bank partnered with Aerofugia to launch a live-streaming event titled "Unlocking the Low-Altitude Economy." The session invited Aerofugia's Marketing Director, Chao Ge, and New Media Manager, Cici, to the studio to share insights on hot topics like the development trends of the low-altitude economy, application scenarios for flying cars, talent cultivation, and future travel modes. From technology R&D to product operations, and from application scenarios to commercial implementation, the discussion outlined the development picture of low-altitude travel gradually entering public life. The image above shows the host, Chao Ge, and Cici (from left to right) in the XW Bank live studio.
From "Imagining the Future" to Industrial Implementation: Why Has the Low-Altitude Economy Become a New Trend?
In recent years, the "low-altitude economy" has frequently appeared in the public eye. From being included in government work reports to being designated a national strategic emerging industry, and with applications like drone logistics, urban inspection, and emergency rescue being continuously implemented, this once relatively unfamiliar concept is gradually becoming a vital force driving industrial upgrading and fostering new productive forces. However, for many in the public, questions remain about what the low-altitude economy truly means and how it will impact future life.
In the XW Bank live stream, Aerofugia's Marketing Director, Chao Ge, first provided a systematic interpretation of the low-altitude economy. He stated that many people think the low-altitude economy is simply about "flying cars" or the drone industry, but in reality, it encompasses a new economic form based on low-altitude airspace. It involves flight activities conducted by manned and unmanned aircraft, driving the coordinated development of multiple industries, including manufacturing, operations, and services. From logistics distribution and emergency rescue to low-altitude cultural tourism, urban inspection, and future low-altitude travel, these are all significant application scenarios for the low-altitude economy.
In his view, the widespread attention on the low-altitude economy is inseparable from strong national policy support. He noted that since the low-altitude economy was included in the government work report, the development direction of this industry has become increasingly clear. In 2026, the state further incorporated the low-altitude economy into strategic emerging pillar industries, joining sectors like integrated circuits, aerospace, and biomedicine as one of the key directions for future development. The continuous push from policies has also prompted upstream and downstream enterprises, research institutions, and social capital to accelerate their布局, injecting new momentum into the industry's development.
Since its establishment in 2020, Aerofugia has consistently focused on the R&D of eVTOL. It did not enter this field because it became a trend but rather seized the new opportunities for industrial development based on years of sustained investment and technological accumulation. He believes that the current industry attention stems both from the guidance of national strategy and the continuous maturity of the industrial chain, including aviation manufacturing, intelligent driving, and battery technology. eVTOL/"flying cars" are gradually moving from technological exploration to a new stage of commercial application. As supporting systems like aircraft technology, supply chain systems, and airspace management continue to mature, this "blank space" is becoming a new blue ocean for development. In the future, as more companies join this track, eVTOL is expected to gradually enter public life, much like new energy vehicles, and become an important part of the future transportation system.
Flying Cars Approaching Reality: How Will They Redefine Modes of Travel?
When mentioning flying cars, many people's first reaction still conjures images from science fiction movies. In response, Chao Ge joked that a flying car is not "a car with wings attached" but a completely new aircraft system. Now, with the development of eVTOL technology, flying cars are gradually moving from concept to reality. As a subsidiary of Geely Technology Group specializing in the low-altitude travel sector, Aerofugia leverages the industrial foundation formed by Geely's long-term layout in the smart travel industry. It can not only share technical experience in new energy vehicles, intelligent manufacturing, three-electric systems, intelligent driving, and supply chain management but also utilize the group's complete industrial chain resources to accelerate the process from R&D and manufacturing to the commercial implementation of flying cars.
Currently, domestic eVTOL is entering a new phase of simultaneous product development and airworthiness certification. Several domestic companies are accelerating eVTOL R&D. The AE200 series developed by Aerofugia uses pure electric drive and distributed power systems, possessing vertical takeoff and landing capabilities. It can complete takeoffs and landings without needing traditional airport runways, effectively improving operational flexibility in complex urban environments. At the same time, compared to traditional helicopters, eVTOL has significant advantages in noise control, maintenance costs, and energy utilization efficiency, better meeting the development needs of future urban low-altitude transportation.
In the XW Bank live stream, Aerofugia's New Media Manager, Cici, stated directly that the development of the low-altitude economy requires not only technological innovation but also the support of an industrial ecosystem. The industrial foundation accumulated by Geely over years of deep involvement in the smart travel sector provides Aerofugia with comprehensive support from R&D and manufacturing to market application. This allows the company to focus more on core aircraft technology breakthroughs while accelerating the exploration of commercial implementation for low-altitude travel.
Discussing future application scenarios, many netizens in the live stream joked that "taking an air taxi" might become a new commuting method. Regarding this, Chao Ge stated that the industry still has much work to do before reaching large-scale commercial operations. However, as technology continues to mature, that day is getting closer. Talking about future applications, Chao Ge believes that the public most easily thinks of urban air mobility, but in reality, the application scenarios for low-altitude flight are far richer than imagined. Besides future short-distance city connections, flying cars can also be used in areas like airport shuttles, business travel, cultural tourism, medical rescue, and emergency support. For example, in areas with complex transportation conditions like mountainous regions or islands, eVTOL can leverage its vertical takeoff and landing advantages to significantly reduce travel time. Facing sudden disasters and urgent medical needs, its rapid response capability can provide new solutions for personnel transfer and material transport. The continuous expansion of these scenarios means that the development of the low-altitude economy will not only change future travel modes but is also expected to become a vital supplement to the public service system.
The Low-Altitude Economy Sailing into the Future: Enabling More People to Participate in This Industrial Revolution
As the low-altitude economy moves from policy planning to industrial practice, the development of a new industry requires not only technological innovation and product breakthroughs but also the collective improvement of talent cultivation, social awareness, and the industrial ecosystem. At the end of the live stream, the XW Bank host invited the two guests to share their expectations for the future development of the low-altitude economy based on their own observations.
Chao Ge stated that flying cars are only a part of the low-altitude economy; the more important aspect behind them is the formation of a complete industrial chain. From aircraft R&D and manufacturing to operational services, maintenance support, flight training, and then to airspace management and digital infrastructure construction, a large number of new career directions and development opportunities will be generated. He expressed hope that more young people will pay attention to this emerging industry in the future, actively learn interdisciplinary knowledge, find their own development space in fields like aviation, new energy, and artificial intelligence, and jointly participate in the construction of the low-altitude economy industry.
Cici stated that the development of low-altitude travel cannot be separated from the participation of the entire society. On one hand, continuous policy improvement and coordinated upstream and downstream industrial chain efforts are needed to constantly enhance the safety, reliability, and commercial viability of aircraft. On the other hand, it also requires the public to gradually build awareness and trust in low-altitude flight, allowing this new mode of travel to truly integrate into daily life. She believes that only when technological innovation, industrial synergy, and social acceptance improve simultaneously can eVTOL truly unleash its greater development potential.
From concept to industry, from pilot projects to application, eVTOL is gradually opening up a new space for development. In the future, as technology continues to mature, the industrial chain is constantly improved, and application scenarios become richer, the "flying cars" that once existed only in imagination may, like today's new energy vehicles, gradually integrate into people's daily lives. The low-altitude economy brings not just a new mode of travel but represents a profound transformation in industrial upgrading, urban governance, and future lifestyles.