The world's first consumer-grade wing-in-ground craft, a vehicle designed to skim over water, has made its debut in Suzhou in east China's Jiangsu Province, marking another step in the country's smart innovations aimed at global markets.
Flying between 30 and 80 centimeters above the water, the craft can reach speeds of up to 85 kilometers per hour.
Developed by domestic firm NAVEE, it targets overseas buyers, with 90 percent of its business focused abroad. The company says the craft requires no airport or special parking facilities and could be used beyond transportation alone.
"It can be used in some entertainment projects and luxury hotels, resorts and yacht clubs. We think its usage scenario is very close to yachts," said Wang Yaozhang, chief product officer of NAVEE.
According to Morgan Stanley, the global low-altitude economy market is expected to exceed 2 trillion U.S. dollars by 2030. China already leads the sector, holding 51 percent of the world's patents.
That reflects a growing trend as the country's innovations increasingly reach foreign markets. An entrepreneur at the vehicle launch event noted that he has been exporting these tech breakthroughs for five years and has recently secured deals to sell China's humanoid robots abroad. "We've reached some dozens of intended orders in the United States. From observation, China's manufacturing industry is becoming stronger," said He Jiangpeng, co-founder, Hangzhou Guangzhilu Tech.
China's smart manufacturing exports have surged in recent months. In the first quarter, the added value of the equipment manufacturing industry rose 6.2 percent year on year, contributing nearly 20 percent to national industrial growth.
Industry insiders have expressed confidence that innovative products such as the wing-in-ground craft will continue to drive momentum. Many believe these breakthroughs will not only boost exports but also reinforce China's position at the forefront of the global low-altitude economy.
China debuts world's first consumer wing-in-ground watercraft
