Hyundai’s electric air taxi subsidiary, Supernal, has paused work on its aircraft program following a series of executive departures and staff reductions, two sources familiar with the matter told TechCrunch.
The startup, which conducted its first test flight earlier this year, had been preparing for its first untethered test flight and aimed to launch a commercial service by 2028. CEO Jaiwon Shin and CTO David McBride have left the company, according to the sources, who spoke anonymously about private company matters. Supernal confirmed Shin’s departure and said the “newly appointed leadership will assess and determine the optimal timeline moving forward,” declining to comment on McBride’s exit.
David Rottblatt, Supernal’s senior business development director, is now serving as interim COO, overseeing operations during the transition. In a statement, the company said Hyundai Group “plans to appoint new leadership with deep expertise in business operations to advance Urban Air Mobility (UAM) solutions and guide the organization into its next phase of growth.”
Last year, Supernal moved its global headquarters from Washington, D.C., to Irvine, California, aiming to streamline operations and improve team collaboration. The relocation affected around 5% of its workforce, roughly 35 to 40 employees, who were asked to transfer to California.
Supernal’s initial demonstrator test flight had been promised by former CEO Shin at the 2024 Consumer Electronics Show, where he highlighted that Supernal was “nearly ready to push the limits of the technology with the demonstrator.” In August 2024, McBride told Vertical Mag that the flight would “validate our ability to build an aircraft” ahead of a planned 2028 commercial launch. The company had also plans for its eVTOL aircraft, the S-A2, to debut at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, targeting annual production of 100 to 200 units.
Supernal’s difficulties mirror broader turbulence in the electric air taxi sector. While some startups, such as Toyota-backed Joby Aviation, continue to announce partnerships and acquisitions, others like Lilium have ceased operations. Earlier this year, Supernal laid off dozens of employees and shuttered its Washington, D.C., headquarters before the relocation.
Supernal is the second Hyundai-backed futuristic mobility venture to face setbacks in recent years. Its autonomous vehicle joint venture Motional underwent a major restructuring last year, including layoffs of roughly 40% of staff following a withdrawal of funding from partner Aptiv, and saw the departure of CEO Karl Iagnemma.