Sarla Aviation, in partnership with the Andhra Pradesh government, will establish the first large-scale electric air taxi manufacturing ecosystem in India, situated in Anantapur. The Rs 1,300 crore Sky Factory project will be one of the biggest eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft manufacturing facilities in the world. The programme’s goal is to build a fully functional manufacturing and testing site in order to improve India’s increased air mobility.
The complex will initially occupy 150 acres and feature cutting-edge production lines, research and development facilities, composite labs and a two-kilometre runway specifically built to test flights that have been certified by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). With the subsequent stage adding an additional 350 acres to this campus, the first stage of this ambitious project has already secured a Rs 330 crore investment promise.
Sarla Aviation, under a scheme named the Sky Factory, aims to produce up to 1,000 next-generation eVTOL aircraft annually, including the hybrid VTOL known as the Shunya. Additionally, the production base will manufacture landing-gear assemblies, electrical harness systems and high-tech composite structures domestically, promoting a domestic supply chain.
As the project progresses, it is anticipated that it will create a significant number of jobs, including forty specialised roles and roughly 140 indirect jobs by 2027. Andhra Pradesh’s involvement will assist with the project’s implementation and provide the ecosystem required to sustain the anticipated manufacturing volume.
Founded by private equity investor Accel, Sarla Aviation is a startup with a six-seater electric flying taxi that plans to go commercial by 2029. The company’s skilled personnel have experience in the global eVTOL business. The company’s goal is to become the world leader in electric aircraft innovation and sustainable mobility technology while resolving urban commuting issues in the biggest Indian metropolitan areas. |
