Chinese flying carmaker EHang has obtained an Austrian trial flight permit for its flagship passenger-grade autonomous aerial vehicle, in the latest step towards its goal of rolling out urban air mobility service worldwide.

The permit, issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of Austria last week, allows EHang to conduct trial operations of completely pilotless flights in the European Union member state for its EHang 216, according to a company statement released on Monday.

Getting the Austrian permit will also support EHang’s growth in Europe by showing the benefits of its urban air mobility service to local regulators, customers and partners, the company said.

Guangzhou-based EHang is touting its urban air mobility solution as one possible way to alleviate ground traffic congestion.

Last month, a company spokesperson told Caixin that the State Council, China’s cabinet, has promised to accelerate the formulation of standards and regulations for urban air transportation on par with countries which have rolled out industrial roadmaps to commercialize urban flying people-movers.

Monday’s announcement comes just a month after EHang completed the maiden flight of its EHang 216 in central Seoul as part of its efforts to promote the use of self-flying vehicles in South Korea, where the government has set a timetable to commercialize “air taxis” by 2025.

Globally EHang sold 23 EHang 216s in the third quarter of 2020, an increase from the 18 units sold in the same period of last year.

Contact reporter Ding Yi (yiding@caixin.com)

Related: EHang’s Aerial People-Mover Logs Maiden Flight in Seoul