Lilium to seek Chinese certification
Electric vertical take off and landing (eVTOL) craft developer Lilium is to seek Chinese type certification ahead of its anticipated entry into service in the Shenzhen-based Bao’an District.
Under a…
June 11, 2024
Electric vertical take off and landing (eVTOL) craft developer Lilium is to seek Chinese type certification ahead of its anticipated entry into service in the Shenzhen-based Bao’an District.
Under a newly signed agreement, Lilium has established its Asia-Pacific regional headquarters by way of its recently created Chinese entity, ‘Powerful Wing’; making it the first European eVTOL manufacturer to base a regional office in the district. Although Lilium’s initial base in the Bao’an Low Altitude Economy Industry Public Service Centre will originally focus on the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the German company subsequently plans to extend its presence across China and the broader Asia-Pacific region.
Lilium will also undertake type certification and validation in China, a market it expects to account for roughly 25% of the global eVTOL market. “China represents a huge opportunity for the eVTOL industry and this partnership with the Bao’an District will expand our footprint even further in China,” highlighted Klaus Roewe, CEO of Lilium.
Representative of the Bao’an District Yong Ni added that the “valuable collaboration will create exciting new opportunities and support the development of the necessary infrastructure to bring sustainable regional aviation to Shenzhen”.
The only eVTOL to have obtained type certification from the Civil Aviation Administration of China thus far is EHang’s autonomous EH216-S, an autonomous aircraft capable of carrying two passengers. The first crewed flight of Lilium’s piloted, seven-seater aircraft is scheduled for the end of 2024.
