WASHINGTON -- Hyundai has taken its electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft sector and spun it off into a separate business. The new company, Supernal, expects its aircraft to enter service in 2028. This is a few years behind other eVTOL developers aiming for 2026 and the more ambitious companies such as Joby Aviation aiming for a 2024 launch.
Supernal has stated that it will not begin the certification until 2024, gaining benefits from delaying its eVTOL launch. This delay allows Supernal to take note of how the market is or is not growing, learning from the mistakes of its competitors while also waiting for the ability to operate autonomously. Supernal has stated its aircraft will be autonomous-capable from day one, meaning that a later launch could remove the need for piloted versions of the aircraft entirely if the legislation goes in favor of pilot-free flight.
The company also has the potential to take advantage of ever-evolving hydrogen fuel cell technologies. Nations like South Korea and Japan are working towards building a hydrogen economy, meaning Supernal's interest in hydrogen powertrains could pay off while it bides its time before launch.