Klaus Roewe, the new chief executive of German flying taxi developer Lilium Air Mobility, said the company plans to build its own capacity to produce about 400 electric Lilium Jet flying taxis a year while taking advantage of various government agencies that can provide public research support plan.
Lilium is competing in the crowded market for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, which it hopes will replace long-distance road trips, as well as short-haul plane and helicopter trips. However, this segment is also under pressure, such as how to obtain safety certification and obtain funding for innovations such as new battery technology. Lilium’s stock has fallen 73% so far this year.
Image credit: Lilium
Roewe, an executive who previously worked for Airbus, told the media: “I’m working hard to build capacity. Our goal is to produce 400 aircraft a year. If we are lucky one day, we will increase the production capacity to 800. We will Capacity will continue to be replicated, not just in Germany, but also in other markets.”
Roewe revealed that Lilium also plans to tap standard public funding sources, such as research grants. But he did not specify what public funds would be used, nor how much. Typically, companies in the aerospace industry use national and EU programs to support innovation.
Lilium also said the company is confident its rechargeable lithium batteries will meet performance and regulatory requirements. In February 2020, a battery fire destroyed an aircraft used for a technology demonstration and delayed testing. Roewe said the so-called risk of battery thermal runaway could never be eliminated but would be contained in a small number of batteries and kept within certification standards, which involve the same tiny errors as commercial aircraft.
Lilium also plans to build a regional transportation network in Florida, and generate an independent revenue stream by selling its fixed-wing hover jets in bulk to businesses that operate their own cargo or passenger operations. The company expects to start receiving pre-delivery payments next year as potential buyers begin to place preliminary orders.
