Insight - Short sellers, SPACs and the future of flying cars


Huge investment: Visitors stand next to a concept flying car at a technology summit in Dubai. A typical development programme for air taxi costs up to US$1bil. — AFP

WHEN EHang Holdings Ltd first sold shares to the US public in December 2019, investors weren’t exactly sold on the rare chance to bet on the future of flying cars.

The Chinese company makes “electric vertical take-off and landing” (eVTOL) aircraft, which function a bit like a helicopter but are powered by batteries and have multiple rotors. Its passenger drones are pilotless, too, unlike those of most of its rivals.

EHang’s listing – a traditional initial public offering (IPO) underwritten by Morgan Stanley and Credit Suisse – raised just US$41mil and valued the company at less than US$700mil. Since then it has been caught up in a surge of excitement about the development of air taxis, and at the start of this week it was worth US$6.8bil.

Play, subscribe and stand a chance to win prizes worth over RM39,000! T&C applies.

Monthly Plan

RM 13.90/month

RM 11.12/month

Billed as RM 11.12 for the 1st month, RM 13.90 thereafter.

Best Value

Annual Plan

RM 12.33/month

RM 9.87/month

Billed as RM 118.40 for the 1st year, RM 148 thereafter.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
Insight , Short sellers , SPACs , flying cars , China , EHang

Next In Business News

OPEC oil output plunges in March as war forces export cuts, Reuters survey finds
US retail sales increase solidly in February
Topmix acquires lands in Johor for RM19mil
MICCI calls for flexibility in implementation of new expatriate policy
TNB proposes RM10bil sukuk programme with tenure of 50 years
Maxim Global unit secures RM54mil Islamic facilities for Cheras sewerage project
Bank Rakyat strengthens cybersecurity after RM1mil AMP
Salcon wins RM80mil water infrastructure contract
Ringgit ends higher on renewed optimism on de-escalation of US-Iran war
Exsim Hospitality wins RM42mil M&E job

Others Also Read