India’s mounting traffic congestion has spurred the government to explore innovative solutions, including air taxis. The Prime Minister recently expressed optimism about air taxis becoming a reality, and new regulations for vertiports have laid the groundwork.
The ePlane Company, founded by IIT Madras aerospace professor Satya Chakravarthy in 2019, aims to address intra-city travel challenges with its electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle, the e200x. Unlike larger air taxis, the e200x features a compact 8-meter wingspan and is designed for short trips, offering 85% faster travel times at roughly twice the cost of an Uber ride.
The e200x utilizes a “lift-plus-cruise” configuration, combining vertical rotors and winged architecture for efficient operation over longer distances. This innovative approach ensures reliability during the transition from vertical to forward flight. The company also employs proprietary “synergistic lift” technology to enhance wing compactness.
ePlane manufactures key components, such as airframes and propellers, at its IIT Madras facility while outsourcing battery cells and assembling them in-house. The startup plans to launch its air taxi commercially by late 2026, following certifications and prototyping in 2025.
To fund its efforts, ePlane recently raised $14 million in a Series B round, led by Speciale Invest and Antares Ventures, valuing the company at $46 million. The funds will support regulatory approvals and commercialization, with potential expansion to markets in Southeast Asia, Europe, and beyond.
Chakravarthy believes India’s success with air taxis could pave the way for global adoption, stating, “What’s good for India will be good for the world.”
