IIT-incubated ePlane partners with Dubai’s Empire Aviation to help India lead e-flying

ePlane is looking at 2026 for the first commercial flight. Initially human piloted, the air taxi will transition to autonomous as regulations allow

By Ada Jain

India is set to become the world’s largest market for electric taxis. An IIT Madras-incubated startup ePlane Co. aims to revolutionize the transportation industry with its “all-electric zero-emission air taxi.” Recently, the electric air taxi startup announced its collaboration with Dubai-based Empire Aviation Group, aiming to fast-track the deployment of electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) air-taxis and air-ambulances across India, UAE, Thailand, and Indonesia.

Founded by Professor Satya Chakravarty, along with Pranjal Mehta in 2019, ePlane has raised $20 million so far through investors.

READ: Indian electric air taxi startup raises $14 million, strives to redefine urban travel (November 15, 2024)

Chakravarty, who is the CEO of ePlane, has previously headed National Centre for Combustion Research (NCCRD), which is the world’s largest combustion research center at IIT and is also a member of the advisory board of various startups incubated at the university.

The Empire Aviation Group has been in the charter aviation industry for over 25 years. Now, it has decided to lend its panache to ePlane in terms of safety protocols and compliance with regulatory frameworks in other countries.

“By combining our patented technology with Empire’s operational expertise across multiple geographies, we are confident in our ability to deliver safe, efficient, and reliable urban air mobility solutions,” said Chakravarty in an interview. ePlane is also seeking another $100 million for development, maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services.

In February, the Chennai-based startup signed a $1 billion deal to supply 788 air ambulances to International Critical-Care Air Transfer Team (ICATT), an air ambulance service provider, which plans to deploy them across all districts in India. The Indian government’s cooperation, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in actively exploring spaces for eVTOLs shapes the momentum of India’s ambitions as an e-taxi hub.

 eVTOLs are being developed as part of the broader push toward advanced air mobility (AAM).

The startup is rivaled by California-based Archer, which is also expected to launch operations next year. Interestingly, in 2023, Archer entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with InterGlobe Enterprises, the parent company of IndiGo, to introduce electric air taxis in India. Other players include Hyderabad-based BluJ Aero, building eVTOLs powered by hydrogen-electric propulsion and Sarla Aviation, which is expected to operate in Bengaluru, India, to reduce airport commute times in the future.

ePlane is looking at 2026 for the first commercial flight.  Initially human piloted, the air taxi will transition to autonomous as regulations allow.

READ: NASA releases posters seeking workers for Mars (June 16, 2016)

According to the founder, beyond environmental efficiency, ePlane is about disruption to the aviation industry, mainly helicopters which are considered noisy and less compact. The wings and vertical rotors enable aerodynamic efficiency,  leveraging a lift-plus-cruise configuration which prioritizes safety over long distance range. It is the first private Indian company to receive Design Organisation Approval (DoA) from India’s DGCA for an electric aircraft.

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