German air taxi firm Lilium says reaches 250 kph in Spain testing

The future of flying shuttles in 2025

Full-size mock-up of an electrically powered Lilium Jet air taxi presentation

A full-size mock-up of an electrically powered Lilium Jet air taxi is seen in a presentation bay inside a hangar at the German company’s headquarters in Oberpfaffenhofen airport outside Munich. | TIM HEPHER

Majorca Daily Bulletin reporter09/03/2023 17:42

German air taxi developer Lilium Air Mobility, said on Thursday it had reached a maximum speed of 250 kilometres per hour with a technology demonstrator, calling it a key milestone on the way to certifying its electrically powered flying shuttles in 2025.

The threshold was reached during testing of the Phoenix 2 vehicle at a flight test centre in southern Spain, the company told Reuters after posting a teaser video on social media.

Lilium is competing in a crowded market for electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) vehicles, hoping to replace road trips or short hops by aircraft or helicopters.

It plans a cruise speed of 250 km or 155 miles per hour.