中国无人机需求迅速增加

At the Shanghai International Technology Fair, a number of companies making private planes and drones were showing off their latest technologies.

A Hungarian company is showing off a private helicopter for use in hard-to-reach areas. And visitors to the fair can use virtual-reality glasses to see what it is like to pilot the device. The company want to start selling the device on the mainland next year, but is still looking for a Chinese partner.

The device is expected to sell for around U.S.$90,000, and some Chinese investors say they want to help bring it to the local market. But a local company that makes electric planes says answering those questions will not be easy. It wants to start selling planes next year, but will mainly focus on overseas markets.

While the market for private planes is lackluster due to policy restriction, companies making drones say the demand has risen rapidly in the past few years. They say government organs have been their best customers so far.

A drone company said 80 percent of its business is with companies and government. And an industry insider says the price of drones will drop as the market further expands. One market research company estimates 3 million drones a year will be sold in China by 2019.