A Chinese manufacturer has joined forces with a European helicopter maker to tap the market for high-end business aircraft, Hong Kong-based Ta Kung Pao reported Monday.
Under an agreement signed with Eurocopter, a subsidiary of the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company, Wenzhou-based Zhong'ou International Group will assemble helicopters at one of its manufacturing plants in Changshu in Jiangsu Province, while Eurocopter, the world's No. 1 helicopter maker, will provide spare parts and technical support.
The first helicopters - seating six to eight people and powered by turbo-charged engines - are due to be delivered next year.
The helicopters will cost between 30 million yuan (US$4.55 million) and 60 million yuan each, according to the newspaper.
Eurocopter has been seeking a partner to produce high-end helicopters for business use in the Chinese mainland for some time.
Established in 1989 mainly as an auto parts manufacturer, Zhong'ou now runs three manufacturing plants in Shanghai and neighboring Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces.
The company started to tap the luxury recreational vehicle market in 2002 in cooperation with Mercedes-Benz.
In the long term, Zhong'ou plans to produce high-end helicopters on its own, Chairman Wu Guolin said.
