- Investigation Shows: Lilium Seeks Enhanced Site for Operations
German electric air taxi company Lilium, based in Bavaria, is pondering a move out of Germany. Based on a report from "Handelsblatt", the leadership is engaging in talks with the French government regarding subsidies and loan guarantees for a potential location in France. Lilium's board chairman and ex-CEO of Airbus, Tom Enders, plans to visit China and the US in September to solicit financial backers. A Lilium spokesperson remained silent on the matter.
The innovative aerospace company south of Munich had initially sought a 100 million euro loan from the federal and state governments as a boost. Lilium currently employs approximately 500 aerospace engineers. The initial manned flight of their fully electric, vertical takeoff and landing air taxi was recently delayed to the beginning of 2025, with the first customer deliveries scheduled for 2026. This development comes at a high cost; around 200 million euros were spent during the first half of 2024 alone. To this point, the Lilium IPO listed on the US Nasdaq exchange has been funded by around 70 investors.
Insiders within the industry argue that electric aircraft developers in the US and China receive significant state funding. After financial assistance from Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria was rejected, the CEO of Baden electric air taxi manufacturer Volocopter, Dirk Hoke, voiced his discontent over the lack of political support. Tom Enders told "Handelsblatt": "The Airbus success would never have occurred without German and French support."
The United States of America could be a potential destination for Lilium's board chairman Tom Enders during his September visits, seeking financial backers for the company. Given the significant state funding received by electric aircraft developers in the US, as mentioned by insiders, the United States of America appears to be an attractive option for Lilium.
