China has launched its first-ever drone “4S store” in a bid to boost its rapidly growing low-altitude economy. The store, officially known as the Low-Altitude Economy Intelligent Equipment Exhibition and Sales Center, began trial operations at the “Sky Eye” national civil unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) testing base in Pengzhou, southwest China’s Sichuan Province.
Modeled after traditional automobile 4S stores—Sales, Spare parts, Service, and Survey—the drone center offers a wide range of services including drone sales, maintenance, parts supply, and information. Zhou Xiaoming, head of the “Sky Eye” base, highlighted the convenience of the one-stop ‘buy and try’ experience, stating, “Here, you can purchase a wide variety of drones with comprehensive functions at competitive prices.”
The center also provides supplementary services such as drone insurance, financial services, public education, and forums. Thirty-two drone-related companies have already signed agreements to operate within the center, signaling strong industry collaboration.
Finding suitable test-flight sites and obtaining airspace approvals have long been challenges for China’s drone industry. The “Sky Eye” base addresses this issue with its dedicated airspace below 1,200 meters and a radius of 5 kilometers, where various types of drones conduct test missions daily.
Since receiving airspace approval in December 2017, “Sky Eye” has evolved into a significant hub for UAV testing and development. In August 2022, it was designated as a national civil UAV testing base, allowing for a transition from an “approval system” to a “notification system” for airspace use. This change permits trial flights to be reported just one hour in advance, effectively reducing user costs and enhancing operational efficiency.
Currently, “Sky Eye” boasts 10 test-flight locations and 19 low-altitude economic application scenarios, making it the largest among China’s 20 national testing bases. It has attracted 132 entities involved in drone research and development, production, mission payloads, and system management, injecting robust momentum into Sichuan’s low-altitude economy.
China’s drone industry is experiencing rapid growth. According to the Civil Aviation Administration of China, nearly 608,000 UAVs were newly registered in the first half of 2024, a 48% increase from the end of 2023. The cumulative flight time of UAVs reached nearly 9.82 million hours during this period, reflecting the industry’s expanding operations.
A report from a research institute under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology indicated that China’s low-altitude economy reached a value of 505.95 billion yuan (approximately $69.3 billion) in 2023. The sector is projected to surpass 1 trillion yuan by 2026, propelled by technological innovation and supportive infrastructure like the new drone “4S store.”
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
