Airbus has announced that it is temporarily halting the development of its electric air taxi project, CityAirbus, in Donauwörth, Germany, signaling difficulties for the once-promising technology.
This move comes as German air taxi startups Lilium and Volocopter also face financial struggles and file for insolvency. The air taxi industry, once widely anticipated to revolutionize urban mobility, is grappling with significant setbacks.
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Airbus Helicopters confirmed the suspension to Bayrischer Rundfunk, though the company emphasized that the project has not been entirely canceled. The break comes as the company faces challenges related to battery technology, which remains insufficient to power electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft over distances of 100 kilometers with a full passenger load. Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters, stated, “We don’t see this technological maturity being reached in the near future.”
The CityAirbus NextGen, the latest version of Airbus’ air taxi, was unveiled in spring 2024, designed to carry three passengers plus a pilot. Despite its promising design, the model has encountered hurdles with its 2.2-tonne weight and battery performance. Airbus has invested a “significant three-digit million euro sum” into the electric flight development and recently opened a new hall for the project in Donauwörth.
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Airbus is not alone in facing challenges in the air taxi race. Lilium and Volocopter, two other prominent German startups, have also struggled with their respective air taxi projects, filing for insolvency in an attempt to reorganize.
The technological difficulties of electric air taxis, along with lengthy certification and authorization processes, have proven to be significant barriers. International competitors, including Ehang and Xpeng Aeroht from China and Archer and Joby from the USA, are also vying for leadership in the air taxi market.
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