(Yicai Global) Sept. 23 -- Chinese carmaking giant Geely Technology Group and Germany’s Volocopter, a maker of electric multirotor helicopters, are to bring air mobility vehicles to China’s cities within the next three to five years.

The VoloDrone, a drone for urban logistics that can carry weights of up to 200 kilograms and fly a range of 40 kilometers, the VoloCity, a two-seater air taxi that has a maximum speed of 110 kilometers per hour and a range of 35 km, as well as the VoloConnect, a small electric plane that can take off and land vertically, will soon be available to Chinese city dwellers.

The joint venture Volocopter (Chengdu) Technology set up by Geely unit Aerofugia and Volocopter has already placed an order for 150 Volocopter unmanned aircraft. The new JV together with Geely’s general aviation manufacturing base will also start manufacturing the Volocopter aircraft in China to meet demand for air taxis in the country.

Hangzhou-based Geely holds a 10 percent stake in Bruchsal-based Volocopter and the firm’s Chief Executive Officer Daniel Li is on Volocopter’s advisory board.

Editor: Kim Taylor