AutoFlight, which makes electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles, called eVTOLs, has signed a partnership with Groupe ADP to test its passengerless devices during the 2024 Olympics, it announced Thursday.
Commercialization planned for 2027 in Europe
Founded in 2017 in China, AutoFlight, whose headquarters are in Shanghai but has its research center in Germany, will begin its test flights next summer at the Pontoise-Cormeilles-en-Vexin vertiport (Val-d’Oise, al north of Paris). ), operated by Groupe ADP, which is developing another five vertiports in the Paris region (at Issy-les-Moulineaux heliport, Paris-Austerlitz, Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle airport, Le Bourget airport and Saint-Cyr l’ Ecole aerodrome).
The Pontoise vertiport offers a complete infrastructure, with a take-off and landing area, a passenger reception terminal and control areas, AutoFlight said in its press release on Thursday.
The company, which employs some 400 people, expects an authorization for its eVTOL cargo – for the transport of material goods – in 2024 in China, before going on the market for the transport of people in 2027 in Europe.
Flying taxis: a booming market
She is not alone in the ranks of eVTOL, which is attracting increasing interest and funding. The German Volocopter has taken a bit of a lead and should make commercial flights, with passengers, for the Olympic Games in Paris next summer.
Since 2021, Volocopter, in partnership with Groupe ADP and the Ile-de-France region, has been carrying out test campaigns for its “VoloCity” devices at Pontoise airport. The company is currently trying to obtain the European certification that will allow it to fly and expects the green light from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in the spring of 2024.
AutoFlight wants to start with annual production of 100 planes and says it has received letters of intent for 780 of its eVTOLs, for passenger and cargo planes, particularly from Asia and the Middle East.
Source: BFM TV
