Lilium, a German company developing electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, has ceased operations. The company, which had been working on flying taxis, laid off approximately 1,000 employees following its failure to secure further funding.
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Co-founder Patrick Nathen confirmed the news on LinkedIn, stating that they could no longer pursue their “shared belief in greener aviation” within the context of Lilium.
Lilium has been actively developing its eVTOL technology for several years. The company achieved a significant milestone in 2017 with the first successful flight of its prototype. Subsequent flight tests in 2019 demonstrated the aircraft’s capabilities, achieving speeds exceeding 100 kilometres per hour. The Lilium Jet prototype, unveiled in 2019, was initially projected to reach speeds of up to 300 km/h with a range of 300 kilometres.
Despite these early successes, Lilium has faced significant financial challenges in recent months. While CEO Daniel Wiegand remained optimistic about securing further funding as recently as last month, the company ultimately failed to secure the necessary investment.
Gründerszene reported that a small team will remain to oversee the liquidation process. The fate of Lilium’s technology and assets remains uncertain, although Fabien Müller, the company’s patent attorney, has confirmed that he is managing the transition of Lilium’s intellectual property.
