eVTOL Start-ups for Multicopter

 

VOLOCITY from Volocopter   
(Mit freundlicher Genehmigung/Courtesy of Volocopter GmbH [Media Hub])

Management Summary

Fig. 1 – Overview multicopter startups worldwide 

Multicopters are wingless vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft in which multiple vertically mounted rotors provide both lift and propulsion. The technology used in multicopters is similar to that of remote-controlled toy drones, although all components are, of course, significantly larger.

Multicopters are being developed for both commercial aviation and private customers. An overview of the most important start-ups is provided in Figure 1 above.

One of the pioneers in multicopters for commercial aviation is the German company Volocopter, which completed its first crewed flight with a prototype as early as 2011. The two-seat VoloCity is currently undergoing EASA certification, with type certification planned for 2027.

Two Asian start-ups are among Volocopter’s most advanced international competitors:

  • The two-seat EH216-S multicopter, developed by the Chinese company EHang, offers performance characteristics similar to those of the VoloCity. The EH216-S has held type certification in China since 2023; production and operator certificates for commercial passenger operations have since also been issued.
  • The Japanese start-up SkyDrive is developing the SD-05, a three-seat multicopter; demonstration and test flights have been conducted at events including World Expo 2025 in Osaka. Type certification is in preparation, with commercialization planned for 2028.

With the VoloXPro, introduced in 2026, Volocopter is offering a multicopter for private aviation for the first time. This makes the multicopter pioneer the only multicopter manufacturer serving both the commercial and private aviation markets.

The two-seat multicopter is designed to comply with German certification requirements for ultralight aircraft. In addition to private customers, the VoloXPro is also aimed at flight schools, air sports clubs, and sightseeing flight operators. Certification and market launch are planned for late 2026.

Most competitors in this aviation segment are based in the United States:

  • Jetson Aero has been accepting orders for the single-seat Jetson ONE since 2021; the first unit was delivered to a customer in September 2025. In the United States, the aircraft can be operated under FAA Part 103 without registration or a pilot’s license.
  • LIFT Aircraft follows a unique business model with the HEXA: The single-seat multicopter is not sold but can be rented by private customers for individual flights after a brief introduction and flown by the customers themselves.
  • RYSE Aero Technologies developed the RECON, a single-seat multicopter designed to comply with FAA Part 103. However, the company appears to have largely ceased operations; no official bankruptcy has been reported to date.
  • The British start-up Bellwether Industries is developing a three-seat multicopter with rotors fully integrated into the airframe. A flight-capable prototype is currently undergoing flight testing.

A unique concept is being pursued by the US start-up Alef Aeronautics, which is developing the Model A, a flying car using multicopter technology. The vehicle can both drive on public roads and take off and land vertically. Flight-capable prototypes are already being tested; production of the first vehicles began in late 2025.

Multicopter Technology

Multicopter technology is similar to that used in remote-controlled toy drones and is relatively simple compared with helicopter technology:
  • Vertical rotors allow multicopters to take off and land vertically.
  • By varying the rotational speeds of the front and rear rotors, the multicopter can fly forward or backward.
  • Differences in rotor speed between the left and right sides also allow the multicopter to fly sideways.
  • Each rotor is powered by its own electric motor.

Multicopters do not require aerodynamic control surfaces such as rudders, elevators, or ailerons. They are controlled exclusively by varying the rotational speeds of the rotors, making multicopters mechanically relatively simple.

Compared with winged eVTOL aircraft, multicopters generally have a shorter range because their rotors must continue to operate during forward flight to generate lift.

The maximum range of two-seat multicopters is currently around 30 to 40 km, largely determined by the capacity of the lithium-ion cells in their batteries. Increasing the energy density of lithium-ion cells is an area of intensive research. Further advances in battery technology are therefore likely to increase the range of multicopters in the coming years. However, due to their higher energy consumption during cruise flight, multicopters will generally achieve shorter ranges than winged VTOL aircraft.

Because safety is a key priority in aviation, the propulsion systems of multicopters used for passenger transportation are generally designed with redundancy. The failure of a single rotor can be compensated for by the remaining rotors, allowing the aircraft to continue flying in a controlled manner or land safely.

Commercial Aviation

The pioneer among multicopter start-ups is the German company Volocopter from Bruchsal, Baden-Württemberg; the first flight of a crewed multicopter took place on October 28, 2011. Volocopter emerged from the pioneering development team and several predecessor companies and today maintains locations in Munich and Singapore in addition to Bruchsal.

Its investors included prominent names such as Mercedes-Benz AG, DB Schenker, Continental, and BlackRock. Following financial difficulties, Volocopter filed for insolvency in late 2024 and was acquired by the Austrian Diamond Aircraft Group in March 2025. Today, Volocopter is a sister company of Diamond Aircraft within the aviation division of the Chinese Wanfeng Auto Holding Group. Volocopter’s headquarters remain in Bruchsal.

Volocopter has since expanded its business strategy to include Private Aviation. With the VoloXPro, the company plans to address the market for private and other non-scheduled aviation applications in addition to commercial aviation (see section Private Aviation).

Fig. 2 – VoloCity from Volocopter   
  (Mit freundlicher Genehmigung/Courtesy of Volocopter GmbH [Media Hub])

The main product for commercial aviation is the two-seat VoloCity multicopter (see Fig. 2). It accommodates one pilot and one passenger, has an operational range of approximately 20 km, and reaches a cruise speed of 90 km/h and a maximum speed of 100 km/h. The VoloCity is primarily designed for short urban routes, for example between airports, train stations, and city centers.

As a manufacturer, Volocopter already holds the required approvals as a design and production organization (DOA and POA), but EASA type certification of the VoloCity is still pending and is expected in 2027.

Following certification, Volocopter plans to deliver the aircraft produced in Bruchsal to operators and partners and work with them to establish commercial flight services. At the same time, the VoloIQ digital platform is intended to help operators manage and optimize their fleets. The initial market launch is planned for Europe, followed by expansion into additional international markets through partnerships.

The VoloCity is equipped with nine replaceable lithium-ion battery packs that supply power to a total of 18 electric motors. After landing, the depleted battery packs are removed from the aircraft, replaced with charged packs, and then recharged at an external charging station.

The German aerospace supplier Diehl Aerospace is involved in the battery management system (BMS), providing the technical platform and components for monitoring and controlling the nine battery packs. Diehl also supplies components for the VoloCity’s flight control and fly-by-light systems. Volocopter currently does not disclose the specific cell type or the manufacturer of the battery cells used.

The advantages of the replaceable battery concept include:

  • Replacing the battery packs is significantly faster than charging them in the aircraft, allowing flights to be operated at much shorter intervals.
  • The battery packs can be charged at external charging stations independently of flight operations. This decouples battery charging time from aircraft operating time.
  • The need for very fast charging can largely be avoided, reducing thermal stress and wear on the battery cells and potentially extending their service life.
  • The use of nine separate battery packs also supports the redundancy of the electric propulsion system, an important safety feature.

Fig. 3 – EH216 prototype at demo flight in Spain
(Mit freundlicher Genehmigung/Courtesy of Guangzhou EHang Intelligent Technology Co. Ltd. [Homepage])

The Chinese company EHang is a direct competitor of Volocopter. With the EH216-S, EHang has developed a two-seat multicopter with performance characteristics comparable to those of the VoloCity. Unlike the VoloCity, however, the rotors are positioned alongside and below the cabin rather than above it (see Fig. 3).

Due to the relatively low position of the rotors, there is a potential risk of injury to people in the immediate vicinity of the aircraft while the propulsion system is operating.

The EH216-S has completed the key certification steps required for commercial operation in China: In 2023, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) issued the Type Certificate and Standard Airworthiness Certificate, followed by the Production Certificate in 2024. Since 2025, the first operators have also received Air Operator Certificates for commercial passenger flights.

A distinctive feature of the EH216-S is its pilotless, automated flight operation. This makes both seats available to passengers, whereas a comparable two-seat eVTOL with a pilot can carry only one passenger. Takeoff, flight, and landing are automated along predefined flight routes. The aircraft are monitored from ground-based control centers. In the long term, this concept is intended to enable scalable operation of larger fleets while reducing personnel costs per flight.

In China, EHang is therefore more advanced in certification and commercialization than most Western eVTOL manufacturers. However, Chinese certifications are not automatically valid in Europe or other markets. EHang is therefore working in parallel with aviation authorities in various countries on testing and certification of the EH216-S for additional markets.

An important initial application for the EH216-S is tourism. Since 2025, the first operators in China have been authorized to offer commercial, paid sightseeing flights; EHang is actively expanding this market in cooperation with tourism companies and local authorities. Tourism serves as an entry market before operations are gradually expanded to more complex applications such as urban point-to-point connections and air taxi services.

For battery technology, EHang is cooperating with Gotion High-Tech. The Chinese battery manufacturer is developing a customized battery system for the EH216 series based on cylindrical 46-series cells.

In parallel, EHang is developing a solid-state battery together with the Chinese battery company Inx Energy. An EH216-S equipped with this battery completed a test flight of more than 48 minutes in 2024. According to the companies, the lithium-metal solid-state cells used in the battery achieve an energy density of 480 Wh/kg; oxide ceramic materials are used as the electrolyte.

Compared with the previous battery, flight duration was significantly increased during testing. However, the solid-state battery is still in the development and testing phase and is not yet part of the EH216-S’s standard production configuration.

Fig. 4 – SkyDrive demonstration flight at Expo 2025 in Osaka
(Mit freundlicher Genehmigung/Courtesy of SkyDrive Inc. [Homepage])

The Japanese company SkyDrive is developing the three-seat SD-05, the largest multicopter for commercial aviation (one pilot plus two passengers). At World Expo 2025 in Osaka, SkyDrive conducted its first public demonstration flights with the SD-05 (see Fig. 4).

The certification process is being conducted in coordination with the Japanese aviation authority JCAB; type certification has therefore not yet been granted. SkyDrive is targeting commercialization in 2028 and is also working with the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on certification for the US market.

An important industrial partner and investor is the Japanese automaker Suzuki. The partnership has been in place since 2022 and includes not only financial investment but also development, production, and international marketing. Production of the SD-05 aircraft began at a Suzuki facility in 2024.

The battery system, including the battery modules and battery management system, is supplied by the US company Electric Power Systems (EPS). The manufacturer of the battery cells used has not yet been publicly disclosed. SkyDrive is developing battery systems with a target energy density of more than 300 Wh/kg.

For its initial commercial applications, SkyDrive is planning, among other things, urban connections and sightseeing flights. In Osaka and on the southern Japanese island of Kyushu, the first commercial routes and sightseeing flights are expected to begin around 2028.

Fig. 5 – UMILES technology for roll stabiliization
(Mit freundlicher Genehmigung/Courtesy of  UMILES Technologies S.L. [Homepage])

Fig. 6 – Unmanned test flight in Toulouse, France 
(Mit freundlicher Genehmigung/Courtesy of  UMILES Technologies S.L. [Homepage]) 

The Spanish company UMILES Next, which was renamed Crisalion Mobility in 2023, developed the Concept, a multicopter technology demonstrator designed to test an unconventional propulsion and stabilization system. With the technology known as FlyFree, four propellers are grouped together in each movable propulsion unit. The individual units can be controlled independently, allowing the aircraft to better compensate for crosswinds and gusts, among other benefits (see Fig. 5).

The technology underwent flight testing beginning in 2019 (see Fig. 6) and was later transferred to the larger, winged Integrity eVTOL; development of a pure multicopter was not pursued further.

However, Crisalion encountered significant financial difficulties in 2025. A planned €150 million financing round failed to materialize, and talks with other investors were also unsuccessful. In November 2025, insolvency proceedings were initiated and the company’s liquidation was ordered; in early 2026, the dissolution of the company was recorded in the Spanish Commercial Registry.

Private Aviation

One of the pioneers among multicopter start-ups for private aviation is Jetson, a company originally founded in Europe and now based in the United States.

With the Jetson ONE, the start-up has developed a single-seat multicopter powered by eight electric rotors, with a top speed of approximately 100 km/h and a flight time of about 20 minutes. The current sales price is US$128,000. In September 2025, Jetson delivered its first production aircraft to a private customer in California, making it one of the first eVTOL start-ups to actually generate revenue from the sale and delivery of an aircraft to a private end customer.

Video 1 – Flight Jetson ONE over dune landscape

(Mit freundlicher Genehmigung/Courtesy of Jetson AB [Homepage])

Jetson has since relocated its headquarters to Palo Alto, California, while production continues in Italy. In the United States, the Jetson ONE can be operated as an Ultralight Vehicle under FAA Part 103 and can therefore be flown without a pilot’s license. Jetson now reports more than 650 orders with an order value of approximately US$100 million; 100 deliveries are planned for 2026.

We were particularly fascinated by the video on the company’s website showing a Jetson ONE flying over a picturesque dune landscape at sunset (see Video 1). It brings to mind Luke Skywalker in his X-34 Landspeeder, gliding across the desert in the first Star Wars movie from 1977.

Fig. 7 – VoloXPro by Volocopter  
  (Mit freundlicher Genehmigung/Courtesy of Volocopter GmbH [Homepage])

With the VoloXPro, Volocopter is expanding into an additional market segment, specifically targeting private pilots, flight schools, and air sports clubs for the first time. The two-seat multicopter builds on the company’s extensive experience with the VoloCity but is designed as an ultralight aircraft for private aviation.

The VoloXPro features 18 rotors and accommodates one pilot and one passenger (see Fig. 7). It has a cruise speed of approximately 70 km/h and, depending on the battery configuration, a range of up to 40 km. With a maximum takeoff weight of 600 kg, the payload is approximately 154 kg. The aircraft features a fly-by-wire system and a redundant propulsion and flight-control architecture; a ballistic recovery system is also planned.

Unlike the VoloCity, which was developed for commercial aviation, the VoloXPro is intended to be certified in Germany as an ultralight aircraft (UL). Certification is planned for late 2026. With a maximum takeoff weight of 600 kg, Volocopter is taking full advantage of the weight limit applicable to ultralight aircraft in Germany. According to pricing information provided by Volocopter to EV-Portal, the VoloXPro is expected to cost approximately €490,000. In addition to private pilots, Volocopter is specifically targeting flight schools and air sports clubs.

Fig. 8 – LIFT Multicopter HEXA   
(Mit freundlicher Genehmigung/Courtesy of LIFT Aircraft Inc. [Homepage])

Fig. 10 – LIFT homepage for HEXA reservation   
(Mit freundlicher Genehmigung/Courtesy of  LIFT Aircraft Inc. [Homepage])

The Austin, Texas-based company LIFT Aircraft is pursuing an unusual business model. The single-seat HEXA multicopter developed by LIFT is not sold to private customers but is instead offered for individual flights as part of a Pay-per-Flight Experience. HEXA features 18 independently powered rotors and qualifies as a Powered Ultralight Vehicle under FAA Part 103 in the United States. As a result, the aircraft can be flown without a pilot’s license. Four outer floats and a fifth central float also allow the aircraft to land on water (see Fig. 8).

After several years of testing, LIFT has now also launched flight operations for private customers. Participants first complete training, including a flight in a VR simulator, and then fly HEXA themselves under the supervision of a flight instructor. This flight experience can currently be booked in Austin, Texas. Prices start at US$199 and include training as well as a short introductory flight of approximately 3–5 minutes. LIFT plans to expand the offering to additional cities and tourist destinations across the United States (see Fig. 9).

LIFT has also demonstrated HEXA’s technical maturity outside the United States. At World Expo 2025 in Osaka, the company conducted crewed demonstration flights together with its Japanese partner Marubeni. After a motor and structural components were damaged during a flight in April 2025, the demonstrations were temporarily suspended; the aircraft was able to land safely and the pilot was uninjured. Following technical investigations and additional test flights, demonstration flights resumed in July 2025.

Fig. 10 – Bellwether “Oryx” Multicopter
(Mit freundlicher Genehmigung/Courtesy of Bellwether Industries Limited [Homepage]) 

One of the most unusual multicopter concepts is being developed by the British company Bellwether Industries from London. The futuristic aircraft look more like a vehicle from a Batman movie than a conventional multicopter (see Fig. 10).

Unlike most competing designs, the rotors are fully integrated into the airframe and are barely visible from the outside. Bellwether refers to this concept as Volar, combining a wingless design with what it calls a Hidden Propulsion System. This results in a particularly compact aircraft designed specifically for takeoffs and landings in confined urban spaces.

The all-electric Oryx offers three seats and measures approximately 3.7 × 6.3 × 1.9 m. Despite its three-seat configuration, the aircraft is therefore remarkably compact. The Oryx currently serves as a test platform for further development of the airframe, flight-control, and propulsion systems and is undergoing active flight testing in Dubai.

Bellwether initially plans to pursue a business model focused on professional fleet operators, with the first customers expected to receive aircraft from 2028. At a later stage, sales to private customers are also planned.

Fig. 11 – Multicopter from RYSE Aero 
(Mit freundlicher Genehmigung/Courtesy of RYSE Aero Technologies, LCC [Homepage])

A multicopter specifically designed for use in rural areas was developed by RYSE Aero Technologies, based in Ohio, USA. The single-seat RYSE RECON featured six electrically powered rotors, reached a speed of approximately 100 km/h, and had a range of up to 40 km (see Fig. 11). 

The aircraft was designed for operation under FAA Part 103 and was therefore intended to be flown in the United States without a pilot’s license. Its floats also allowed takeoffs and landings on water. RYSE primarily targeted farmers and ranchers. The RECON was intended for inspection flights over large agricultural areas and other short-distance transportation needs. 

Following its first crewed flight in June 2022, RYSE reported completing more than 600 flights with several prototypes. At one point, approximately 200–250 reservations for the RECON had been reported; the planned sales price was around US$150,000. However, the repeatedly announced start of series production and customer deliveries never materialized. RYSE encountered financial difficulties and ultimately ceased operations. 

The RECON is therefore one of numerous eVTOL projects that failed to make the transition to series production despite having reached an advanced stage of development with a crewed prototype already undergoing flight testing.

Fig. 12 – ZEVA Multicopter  
(Mit freundlicher Genehmigung/Courtesy of ZEVA. Inc. [Homepage])

Fig. 13 – ZEVA SkyDock™ Concept
(Mit freundlicher Genehmigung/Courtesy of ZEVA, Inc. [Homepage])

A particularly futuristic multicopter concept was developed by the US company ZEVA Aero, based in the state of Washington. The single-seat ZEVA Zero, with its disk-shaped airframe, resembled a vertically oriented UFO.

The SkyDock™ concept developed by ZEVA was particularly visionary. Instead of landing at a vertiport or on a rooftop, the aircraft docks directly to the exterior wall of a high-rise building (see Fig. 13). The concept currently remains only a vision and has not yet been implemented in practice.

In May 2024, ZEVA Aero was renamed Alpine Vertical. At the same time, the company changed its technical direction: Instead of pursuing the unconventional disk-shaped multicopter, Alpine Vertical is now focusing on other designs, including hybrid-electric VTOL concepts.

The ZEVA Zero, Z2, and SkyDock are therefore no longer being developed as active product projects. SkyDock in particular, however, remains an interesting example of how future eVTOLs could be integrated directly into the infrastructure of major cities.

Flying cars with Multicopter Technology

Fig. 14 – Alef flying car at the airfield
(Mit freundlicher Genehmigung/Courtesy of Alef Aeronautics Inc. [Press Kit])

Fig. 15 – Alef flying car during a test flight
(Mit freundlicher Genehmigung/Courtesy of Alef Aeronautics Inc. [Press Kit])

The US start-up Alef Aeronautics was founded in Silicon Valley in 2015. Its early investors include venture capitalist Tim Draper, who is also known for his early investments in Tesla and SpaceX. The company is now headquartered in San Mateo, California.

With the two-seat Model A, Alef is developing an unconventional electric flying car using multicopter technology that is designed to both drive on public roads and take off and land vertically. Eight rotors integrated into the vehicle body generate lift. A distinctive feature is the extensive mesh structure of the body, which allows the airflow required by the rotors to pass through (see Fig. 14).

After vertical takeoff, the vehicle body rotates by approximately 90 degrees for forward flight; the sides of the body then function as wings, while the articulated cabin containing the occupants remains horizontally oriented. Alef specifies a flight range of approximately 177 km (110 miles) and a road range of approximately 320 km (200 miles).

As a road vehicle, however, the Model A is designed as a Low Speed Vehicle (LSV) and is limited to approximately 40 km/h (25 mph). Classification as an LSV reduces regulatory requirements compared with a conventional passenger car, particularly with regard to crash safety, thereby allowing a lighter design – a significant advantage for an aircraft. In return, its use on public roads is substantially restricted; highways and other high-speed roads are not suitable. The planned sales price is approximately US$300,000.

Development has now reached a relatively advanced stage: In 2023, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted a Special Airworthiness Certificate for testing purposes. In 2025, Alef released footage for the first time showing a prototype taking off vertically and flying over a vehicle (see Fig. 15).

In late 2025, the company began manufacturing the first Model A vehicles in California. These initial hand-built vehicles are intended to be delivered to a small number of selected customers for testing under controlled conditions. Regular series production and the certifications required for broad commercial use, however, are still pending.