Lilium’s cabin mockup on display at the Paris Air Show.
LE BOURGET—Lilium has announced a pair of new partnerships aimed at establishing a presence in China, part of the company’s plan to build out regional air mobility networks around the world for its ducted-fan, vectored-thrust Lilium Jet.
The effort will see the German startup partner with the Bao’an District of China’s Shenzhen municipality to establish a regional headquarters that will represent Lilium in China and the Asia-Pacific region, Lilium said. The partnership will initially concentrate on the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area–home to more than 85 million people–with plans to expand across China and elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific region.
Lilium also announced a partnership with helicopter operator Heli-Eastern, which will operate the Lilium Jets in the Bao’an District on behalf of the municipal government, including a 100 aircraft order that was announced on June 19 here at the Paris Air Show, where Lilium is displaying a full-size cabin mockup.
Speaking to Show News, Lilium CEO Klaus Roewe said China presents an exciting market opportunity for electric-vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) aircraft sales, observing the large population size, growing middle class, existing infrastructure and a favorable approach to certification by Chinese regulators.
“When we consider the potential of the market opportunity in the [Greater Bay] area, we see demand for between 600 and 800 aircraft,” Roewe said. “In addition, we are very glad to be partnered with Heli-Eastern, which has a large fleet of helicopters and operates a large network of vertiports, making them an ideal customer for us.”
As for the regional headquarters, Roewe said it will perform functions related to marketing, sales, vehicle development and certification. “This office will do many things. We will have a place where we can display a jet for sales purposes; make sure that the vertiports can be equipped properly and get approvals; consult with the authorities on ATC [air traffic control] and other issues, and so on.”
Roewe added that Shenzhen has been identified by Beijing as a hub for innovation in aerial mobility and unmanned operations, making it a suitable location to establish the regional headquarters.
“Shenzhen has become the showcase and the model within China for unmanned and urban transport,” Roewe says. “Shenzhen is the tech city in China, and they want to be the first ones to operate eVTOLs, so there’s been lots of engagement on their side. There will be hurdles, but our partners will help us through them because they want us to succeed as well.”
