Volocopter not expected to fly with passengers until 2026

Two months ago, the Chinese conglomerate Wanfeng Auto Holding Group took over the Bruchsal-based aviation company Volocopter, saving it from insolvency. However, the start of passenger operations for the air cabs has been delayed.

The automotive supplier Wanfeng announced at the beginning of March that it was buying Volocopter for ten million euros. Due to the insolvency proceedings and restructuring, Volocopter is therefore not aiming for type certification for passenger operations from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) until 2026, a company spokesperson told Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa).

After the takeover , it was stated that this was "targeted for 2025." For now, the operational focus is on restructuring and stabilizing the company, the spokesperson said.

Volocopter develops electrically powered aircraft for passenger transportation in cities (Urban Air Mobility, UAM). The Volocity is reminiscent of a helicopter without the tail rotor. The aircraft is powered by 18 rotors mounted on a frame above the cockpit. The air cab can carry two people. It has a range of around 20 kilometers and a top speed of around 100 km/h.

Volocopter wanted to fly in Paris

The EASA has approved the design of the Volocopter and granted approval for production. Type certification for passenger operations is still pending. Volocopter actually wanted to receive this last year. The plan was for Volocopter to fly with passengers on board during the Olympic Games in Paris. This came to nothing due to the lack of approval.

Wanfeng renamed Volocopter to Volocopter Technologies and integrated it into the subsidiary Diamond Aircraft Industries, an Austrian aircraft manufacturer. The company headquarters remain in Bruchsal.

"As part of the acquisition and the associated restructuring measures, 160 employees of Volocopter GmbH were taken on," the spokesperson told dpa. "With these employees, the most important expertise and the operational ability to act of Volocopter Technologies GmbH could be secured." The operational focus is currently on restructuring and stabilizing the company.

Volocopter was founded in 2011 and filed for insolvency at the end of December last year. Shortly before this, there had been speculation that the Chinese automotive group Geely would take over the ailing company. At its peak, Volocopter was valued at 1.5 billion euros and had over 600 employees.

(wpl)