Aerofugia Partners with Dassault Systèmes

Aerofugia, a subsidiary of Geely, has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Dassault Systèmes to build an integrated product development platform for eVTOLs.

Dassault Systèmes has been providing its 3DEXPERIENCE platform for other advanced air mobility companies such as Joby Aviation. The platform has helped Joby to certify safety-critical additive parts for its eVTOL air taxi.

The new partnership with Aerofugia builds on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform and aims to enhance the agility of early-stage development of electric aircraft, as well as mid-term aircraft design analysis through systems engineering, encompassing the whole eVTOL, subsystems, components, wiring harnesses, and hardware and software design. 

Additionally, the collaboration seeks to improve the later-stage research and development capabilities, technological innovation, and product competitiveness, while ensuring quality and safety, as well as function optimization and upgrading.

Simultaneously, the platform will aid companies in achieving significant advancements in safety and certification from the Civil Aviation Administration Of China (CAAC). 

The strategic signing ceremony was attended by Samson Khaou, the Managing Director of Dassault Systèmes, Zhang Ying, Dassault Systèmes’s Managing Director of Greater China, and Guo Liang, CEO and Chief Scientist of Aerofugia.

“We look forward to working with Dassault Systèmes to establish a new model for eVTOL innovation research and development, manufacturing, and continuous operations,” Guo said. “This will promote the sustainable development of the entire industry value chain, continuously advance the practical implementation of smart three-dimensional transportation scenarios in cities, and create a green, sustainable, digitized three-dimensional transportation ecosystem.”

Khaou called the development of three-dimensional transportation being built in cities a “groundbreaking” task, adding the cooperation between Aerofugia and  will ensure companies building eVTOLs have a clear roadmap to commercial launch. 

“Dassault Systèmes has a leading digital platform technology globally, while Aerofugia has excellent research and development capabilities,” Khaou said. “We believe that Dassault Systèmes can assist Aerofugia in putting innovative concepts into practice and jointly create the best practices across industries.”

Aerofugia’s partnership with Dassault Systèmes comes after the Chengu-based firm unveiled its AE200 eVTOL at the BEYOND International Science and Innovation Expo in Macau on May 10. In April 2023, Aerofugia told Asian Sky Group it had taken a “solid step” in kickstarting the type certification process as it adheres to the company’s plan to launch commercially in 2028. 

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