Volocopter, the German electric air taxi company, is recovering from insolvency after being acquired by Diamond Aircraft (owned by the Wanfeng Group) in March 2025, and is resuming development of its flagship VoloCity eVTOL aircraft, with a delayed target for passenger service now set for 2026. Key points from the latest developments:[1][2][3][4]
- Ownership and Restructuring: After filing for insolvency in December 2024, Volocopter was acquired by Diamond Aircraft in March 2025. The new owners have reorganized operations, reduced staff from around 500 to approximately 160, and are leveraging Diamond's certification expertise to support Volocopter's progress.[5][3][4][6][1]
- Aircraft Certification Progress: The VoloCity, a two-seat urban air mobility eVTOL, is now on a revised path toward European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification. Volocopter is aiming to achieve certification by late 2026. Production is planned to begin before this so customer deliveries can start as soon as certification is achieved.[2][7][8][1]
- Product Roadmap: Beside the VoloCity, Volocopter continues to develop the VoloRegion (formerly VoloConnect), a four-seat, longer-range aircraft designed for regional connectivity, with projected specifications of 180 km/h cruise speed and a range of about 100 km. Certification and service introduction are similarly projected for 2026.[4][1]
- Geographic and Industrial Strategy: The headquarters remains in Bruchsal, Germany, but future production may span facilities in Austria, Canada, and potentially China, leveraging Diamond’s manufacturing footprint.[7]
- Business Focus and Visibility: The new leadership under acting CEO Artem Izokh is focused on a streamlined certification-first strategy, prioritizing the VoloCity's completion before expanding to other projects. Public promotional activities are currently reduced as the company conserves resources to ensure survival and advancement.[7][5]
Despite financial upheaval and industry skepticism, there is renewed but cautious optimism. The lifeline from Diamond Aircraft/Wanfeng enables Volocopter to maintain its legacy as a pioneering eVTOL player, though timelines for urban air taxi services and further growth are still subject to regulatory and financial realities.[9][1][7]
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- https://verticalmag.com/news/volocopter-rebounds-with-new-owner-resumes-certification-path/
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/volocopter-delays-air-taxi-passenger-065423816.html
- https://avitrader.com/2025/03/21/diamond-aircraft-to-secure-volocopters-future-in-germany/
- https://evtol.news/volocopter-voloconnect/
- https://zagdaily.com/zag-air/has-volocopter-found-a-lifeline/
- https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/futureflight/2025-03-14/wanfengs-diamond-aircraft-absorbs-evtol-developer-volocopter
- https://aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org/paris-air-show-exclusive-dont-count-volocopter-out-yet-says-acting-ceo/
- https://www.ainonline.com/company/volocopter
- https://avweb.com/aviation-news/diamonds-owner-buys-volocopter/
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