Advanced Air Mobility News

Aerofugia Completes First Test Flight

Aerofugia Completes First Test Flight

Aerofugia, a subsidiary of Chinese automaker Geely, completed the first test flight of its AE200 electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) prototype.

Having made progress in type certification and system testing back in 2022, the Chinese eVTOL company said the test flight this time marks the beginning of a new phase. Aerofugia will work on further airworthiness certification and test flights in 2023.

The test flight of the five-seater eVTOL aircraft independently developed by Aerofugia came at a time when China’s advanced air mobility company Xpeng Aeroht received a special flight permit to continue manned flights in its two-seater X2, becoming the first of its kind in China to have official certification for flight safety.

Aerofugia, aiming to launch commercial service of its eVTOL aircraft in China by 2028, formed a joint venture with Volocopter, which will see the German startup provide 150 electric aircraft for the development of advanced air mobility in China.

Its parent company Geely acquired Volvo Cars in 2010 and showed its interest in the aerospace industry and the development of electric aircraft by buying flying car start-up Terrafugia in June 2017.

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