Elektrisch in die Luft: EU-Millionen und Kaufzusagen für Flugzeug-Startup Vaeridion

The European Union and investors have committed over 120 million Euros towards the development of an electric airplane for the Munich-based startup Vaeridion. The company recently raised 30 million Euros from venture capitalists during a financing round, as reported by Vaeridion. Earlier, the European Commission had provided 94.5 million Euros from the Innovation Fund.

Vaeridion is developing a nine-seat regional passenger aircraft called the "Microliner." According to company statements, 130 aircraft orders have already been secured. The funding aims to advance Vaeridion in two major ways: with the 30 million from investors, the company intends to build a compliant prototype; the EU funds are intended for final assembly and production at Oberpfaffenhofen Airport, a hub for German aerospace research and development.

Vaeridion's founder and CEO, Ivor von Dartel, is a former Airbus manager. The economic rationale: globally, over 21,000 small turboprop aircraft operate on regional routes, with an average age of 23 years. The electric aircraft, with a 400-kilometer range, is expected to have lower operating costs as it doesn't require jet fuel.

Vaeridion estimates that Microliner tickets would cost around the price of first-class ICE train tickets. The first customer is reportedly ASL Group, a business jet operator in Belgium and the Netherlands. Two prominent electric aircraft startups in Germany have already failed: the Munich-based Lilium went bankrupt twice and then sold to Chinese investors, while the Baden-Württemberg company Volocopter was sold to Chinese investors following a collapse.

However, Vaeridion is not the only remaining electric startup; another Bavarian-born company, ERC System, is developing a hybrid motor aircraft for medical transports and other purposes.