According to Bloomberg, Hyundai Motor Group plans to establish a factory in the United States to produce electric flying taxis for its aerial mobility division, Supernal, catering to commuters.
The CEO of Supernal, Shin Jaiwon, stated that a prototype of the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft will be showcased at the CES event in Las Vegas in January. It will be capable of flying at speeds of up to 120 miles per hour (190 kilometers per hour) and accommodate one pilot and four passengers.
During an interview with Bloomberg in Singapore this week, Shin mentioned that the goal is to conduct test flights by December 2024 and commence commercial services four years later. "Considering battery technology, infrastructure, and the accompanying regulatory situation, this will take some time."
Batteries pose the biggest technological challenge for electric air travel, accounting for 40% of the aircraft's weight. Shin also highlighted, "From an operational standpoint, we don't have an air traffic management system to handle these vehicles. So far, even in the foreseeable future, we don't have man-made objects flying below 500 meters."
Supernal, headquartered in Washington, D.C., plans to submit an application to the Federal Aviation Administration for eVTOL certification in the coming months. Shin believes that this industry is still young, and therefore, collaboration between the company and regulatory agencies is needed to find the best path forward. "Right now, there's nothing—no infrastructure, no policies, no regulations. Being a brand-new industry, the FAA doesn't have a ready-made certification method."
Currently, Hyundai already has a factory producing cars in Alabama, while Kia has a factory in Georgia. Shin did not disclose the investment amount for the Supernal factory or provide details regarding its scale, potential location, or other specifics.
In July, Supernal opened a new engineering headquarters in Irvine, California, followed by a new research and development center in Fremont two months later. According to Shin, the company's employee count has doubled to nearly 600 people compared to last year, with many coming from Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Tesla. "We need to hire more people as we start flight tests next year."
Documents show that Hyundai, Kia, and Hyundai Mobis have invested approximately 1.2 trillion Korean won (around $920 million) in Supernal since its establishment two years ago. Shin mentioned that since the funding comes from Hyundai Motor Group, Supernal does not intend to go public. Last month, the company also signed an agreement with Korean Air to jointly develop air mobility services for the Korean market.
