CATL invests in China’s electric air taxi developer Autoflight

The Chinese electric flying taxi startup Autoflight has announced a significant investment from CATL. The battery giant is pumping several hundred million dollars into Autoflight. The two companies also want to jointly develop batteries for electric aircraft.

According to official statements, CATL will invest “hundreds of millions of dollars” and thus become a strategic investor in eVTOL developer Autoflight. eVTOLs are electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles used for either cargo or passenger transport, a market that is currently under development. Autoflight is one of the most promising Chinese players in this new field. The Shanghai-based company announced the first delivery of its five-seater eVOTL Prosperity to a customer in Japan just a few months ago.

CATL, the world’s largest manufacturer of electric car batteries, wants to use the deal to gain a foothold in the air taxi market. Autoflight emphasises its new investor’s “deep R&D expertise, robust industrial foundation, and extensive industrial chain advantages.” The air taxi developer expects the partnership to lead to “significant breakthroughs in the eVTOL sector.”

In return, AutoFlight is committed to the joint research and development of eVTOL aviation batteries to achieve longer flight distances and higher charging capacities while increasing safety. The aim is to accelerate development and “elevate the overall technical capabilities of eVTOL aircraft to new heights.”

The initial delivery of its five-seater just mentioned went to an unnamed customer in April, who wants to offer eVTOL demonstration flights at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka. Autoflight said the delivery was the “world’s first delivery of a civilian eVTOL aircraft in the one-ton class.” According to previous information, certification of the Prosperity was not planned until 2025, meaning that the Japanese customer will not be able to use the aircraft commercially before then.

In 2023, the Prosperity set a record for the longest flight distance of an eVTOL without a loading stop – at that time, it was still remote-controlled from the ground. This February, a demonstration flight was also carried out between the southern Chinese cities of Shenzhen and Zhuhai. The 50-kilometer flight lasted 20 minutes. According to the company, a 123-kilometre flight in the Middle East followed in May, and a few days ago, a flight over the Yangtze River.

In addition, in spring, a cargo variant of Autoflight’s Prosperity model called CarryAll received type certification from the Chinese Civil Aviation Administration (CAAC). Autoflight says it is the world’s first eVTOL weighing over one tonne to receive type certification.

autoflight.com