Munich-based drone startup Lilium is now seeking regulatory safety approval for the all-electric vertical take-off and landing passenger taxis, a world first.
Lilium
In the EU, the German firm has already applied to the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to secure certification, and will soon begin the application with the US counterpart, US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), according to the company's CFO Christopher Delbrueck.
Lilium's goal is to have a fleet of electric aircraft operating in major cities across the planet by 2025. The aircraft will offer a pay-per-ride air-taxi service, that is faster than a car, quieter than a motorbike and emissions-free.
The aircraft will have a range of 300 km, which equates to a trip between New York and Boston in around an hour.
Lilium has secured $100-million to fund development so far, though the company says further financing will be required before it can move to full-scale production.
Gaining regulatory approval in Europe and the US is seen as a key step for Lilium.
There are over 100 electric aircraft projects currently in development across the world, and Lilium is competing against startups like Kitty Hawk and Joby Aviation, as well as giants such as Airbus and Boeing.
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