Back from the brink: Volocopter launches its new VoloXPro eVTOL aircraft
April 23, 2026
Volocopter, the German eVTOL developer that was the subject of insolvency proceedings in 2024 and was subsequently purchased by the owner of Diamond Aircraft, has just launched an all-new product.
The company’s VoloXPro, an electrically powered ultralight multicopter, has been unveiled at this week’s AERO Friedrichshafen event, potentially marking a fresh start for the European aerospace firm.
Volocopter bounces back from insolvency with the VoloXPro
German aerospace firm Volocopter has launched a new product in the form of its VoloXPro – an electrically powered ultralight multicopter designed for air sports and professional passenger transport.
The development marks a return to the aerospace scene for the manufacturer after a turbulent period when the company, which saw it declare insolvency before being bought out by the owner of Diamond Aircraft in March 2025.
Having been working on the development of the new aircraft throughout 2025, the new VoloXPro can accommodate two people and is being primarily targeted at flight schools, flying clubs, air sports enthusiasts, and sightseeing tour operators.
Volocopter also sees a role for the aircraft in the air taxi sector, an area with which it has previous experience with its VoloCity eVTOL (electric Vertical Take-off and Landing) aircraft.
Launching the aircraft at the AERO Friedrichshafen show, being held in Germany between 22 and 25 April, Volocopter said it expects the VoloXPro to achieve certification (classified as an ultralight) towards the end of 2026, alongside parallel approvals from other European aviation authorities.
The VoloXPro is being launched as an entirely new development, albeit with some similarities to the company’s previous design, the VoloCity eVTOL air taxi that was previously launched in August 2019.
The company states that the VoloXPro promises an emission-neutral, low-noise platform which can be used for a wide range of uses and applications. Additionally, Volocopter plans to offer the VoloXPro in different technical configurations depending on the intended use and customer requirements.
Using technologies and expertise gained through the VoloCity eVTOL aircraft
While the VoloXPro is being marketed as an all-new aircraft, it does feature components that were developed for the VoloCity air taxi. Its modular cabin design and multirotor configuration are common to the VoloCity, which was primarily developed to serve the air taxi sector as well as for medical and police air support services.
Using common components, the company is hoping that this approach will expedite the VoloXPro’s pathway to early certification, with many of the safety measures already proven through the VoloCity programme.
Additionally, through the use of common technology and previous expertise gained with the VoloCity concept, Volocopter is hoping to keep the price of the VoloXPro as affordable as possible both for groups and private individuals.
VoloXPro specifications
The VoloXPro is a fully electric two-seat eVTOL aircraft, powered by 18 rotor sets mounted on a circular pylon structure over the main cabin. The aircraft will be capable of carrying a payload of 154kg and offer a maximum take-off weight of 600kg. It has been designed to travel at a cruise speed of 70kph and will offer a range of 40km.
In its statement on the VoloXPro, Volocopter said that the new aircraft will feature a range of high-technology additions, including single-stick controls and a variety of cockpit layout options to suit operators from the private individual to the professional operator.
Additionally, customers will be able to customise their own VoloXPro with features including a single-screen glass cockpit, assistance systems such as collision warning systems, interior design elements, customizable exterior paintwork, fast charging, and various battery options.
“With the ultralight VoloXPro, electric multicopter flying at the safety standard of a passenger aircraft, all at the price of a luxury car, will become possible for private customers and commercial operators,” said David Bausek, chief technology officer at Volocopter. “Thanks to the fly-by-wire control system, flying is easier than ever before, and all of it is low-noise and emissions-free.”
Volocopter moves forward with advancing air mobility
The launch of the VoloXPro marks the first major announcement from Volocopter since it was taken over by Chinese automotive parts and equipment manufacturer Wanfeng Auto Holding Group, the parent company of Diamond Aircraft, in March 2025 for €10 million.
Volocopter was once one of Europe’s most celebrated flying taxi startups. Founded in Germany, it promised short-hop urban air mobility using eVTOL aircraft, attracting hundreds of millions of Euros in funding and several high-profile partnerships. Its flagship aircraft, the VoloCity, completed many test flights and was heavily promoted for commercial launch in cities such as Paris and Singapore.
However, despite widespread publicity, Volocopter struggled to convert prototypes into a certified, revenue-generating business. The core problem was timing and cash burn. Aerospace certification is expensive and slow, especially for a new category like eVTOL aircraft.
Volocopter aimed to showcase passenger services during the 2024 Paris Olympics, but delays in propulsion-system approval and broader regulatory milestones prevented the launch. As timelines slipped, investor enthusiasm weakened across the global eVTOL sector.
At the same time, other eVTOL competitors such as Lilium were also facing distress, signalling a wider market correction and leaving the likes of Volocopter with an uncertain future.
By late 2024, Volocopter filed for insolvency after failing to secure enough fresh capital to sustain operations. Reports indicated that most of its roughly 450 to 500 employees were placed on leave or faced redundancy while administrators searched for buyers.
The collapse was striking because the company had once been seen as a leader in European advanced air mobility.
The rescue came in March 2025 when Diamond Aircraft acquired Volocopter through its parent group, Wanfeng Auto Holding Group. Sources reported the purchase price at around €10 million (about $11 million), far below earlier valuations reportedly near €42 million.
The plan was to retain a reduced workforce and use Diamond’s established certification and manufacturing expertise to push ahead with developing new eVTOL concepts and bring them to market, using the technical expertise already established with the VoloCity concept.
The VoloXPro, therefore, represents the first of those concepts, with the aviation community anticipating the certification of the new type later this year. Whether the new aircraft can succeed where the VoloCity fell short remains to be seen.
Featured image: Volocopter
