The ePlane Company, an Indian electric aircraft startup, has signed a non-binding agreement to supply 788 electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air ambulances to ICATT, an air ambulance service provider. The deal is valued at more than $1 billion, according to a report by Reuters.
ICATT plans to deploy the aircraft across all districts in India. ePlane aims to begin commercial operations in the latter half of 2026, initially producing 100 units per year, according to founder Satya Chakravarthy.
The aircraft is expected to have an initial range of approximately 110 kilometers, with plans to extend this beyond 200 kilometers. ePlane intends to start with three prototypes, each designed to carry a pilot, a paramedic, and a patient on a stretcher.
In an interview with Reuters, Chakravarthy stated that the company has raised $20 million from investors and estimates that an additional $100 million will be needed for further prototype development, type certification, and commercial production.
India's emerging eVTOL market includes companies such as Archer Aviation and Sarla Aviation.
Tuesday, February 18, 2025