Shenzhen and five other cities will launch pilot programs for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, an official said during a forum in Kunshan, Jiangsu Province, on Monday.

The programs will involve local governments in the management of airspace below 600 meters, marking a significant step in the burgeoning low-altitude economy, said Sun Weiguo with the China Air Transport Association.

Able to carry passengers or cargo, eVTOL aircraft do not require long runways and can take off and land vertically on small plots of land or rooftops. They operate on batteries, which are convenient to charge. Since they produce less noise, they can be used for intercity transportation, sightseeing, medical services, and emergencies. Common examples include photography drones, seeding drones, and cargo drones.

By the end of last year, Shenzhen had more than 1,700 drone-related companies in operation, with a combined annual output value of about 96 billion yuan (US$13.2 billion).

In April, Shenzhen launched its first regular low-altitude short-haul transport route. The route from the Shenzhen COHC Helicopter Airport in Nanshan District to the Zhuhai Jiuzhou Airport reduces the travel time to just 20 minutes.