Asian Tech Press (SEP 23) -- German air cab startup Volocopter, a pioneer in urban air mobility (UAM), said Wednesday that a joint venture with a Chinese automaker Geely Group unit would introduce UAM in China, with an agreement already signed to buy 150 Volocopter aircraft, according to media reports.

UAM refers to a new urban transportation model that uses electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft to transport people or cargo in lower airspace in cities and suburbs, helping to ease pressure on increasingly congested urban roads.

Volocopter CEO Florian Reuter said, "Geely has been a valued partner since 2019. The agreement marks another significant milestone for both parties, which is expected to bring the eVTOL aircraft to China in the next three to five years.

With design organization approval from the European Union's Aviation Safety Agency in 2019 and production organization approval in 2021, Volocopter is the first and only eVTOL company in the world to receive approval from the organization.