Guangzhou firms EHang and PCI Technology Group use Hong Kong as base to expand low-altitude and AI rail technology
Why It MattersHong Kong is emerging as a testbed and expansion base for Guangzhou-developed low-altitude aircraft and AI rail-safety technology entering Greater Bay Area transport networks.
Two Guangzhou-based technology companies are using Hong Kong as a springboard for their businesses in the low-altitude economy and AI-driven railway safety. EHang, a developer of unmanned aircraft, plans to hold a first-flight ceremony in Hong Kong at the end of August 2026 for its autonomous passenger-carrying aircraft, which requires no pilot, carries two passengers, flies at an altitude of 120 metres, and can remain airborne for approximately half an hour using automatic navigation once a route is set. The company's vice president said Hong Kong offers advantages in formulating air traffic rules and presents application opportunities in logistics and personnel transfer between islands.
Separately, PCI Technology Group, also headquartered in Guangzhou, is in discussions with MTR to expand its cooperation beyond the QR code fare payment services it launched for the railway in 2020, with the expanded collaboration involving AI systems designed to prevent train malfunctions and power supply failures. PCI Technology Group said similar AI technology already deployed in Guangzhou has reduced operating costs by 20 to 30 percent, and the company established a research and development centre at Hong Kong Science Park in 2026.
