IIT Madras startup unveils India's latest flying taxi prototype
IIT Madras-incubated startup The ePlane Company has revealed a full-scale electric air taxi prototype in Chennai, marking a key step for urban air mobility in India.
The future of urban transport may not stay on the roads for much longer. India has taken a significant step towards electric air mobility as IIT Madras-incubated startup The ePlane Company unveiled its full-scale electric flying taxi prototype, the e200X.
Revealed at the company's new 60,000 sq ft manufacturing facility on the IIT Madras Discovery Campus in Chennai, the aircraft reflects India's growing ambitions to develop cleaner and faster transport solutions for crowded cities.
A new approach to city travel
The e200X is an electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, better known as an eVTOL. Unlike conventional aircraft, it can take off and land vertically like a helicopter before transitioning into forward flight. Since it does not require a runway, the aircraft is designed for cities where land is scarce, and traffic congestion is a daily challenge.
The prototype is expected to support passenger transport, cargo deliveries and emergency medical services. According to reports, the aircraft features a carbon-fibre composite body, weighs around 2.2 tonnes, has an 8-metre wingspan and offers an operational range of approximately 110 km.
Developed through IIT Madras innovation
Founded in 2019 by IIT Madras professor Satya Chakravarthy and Pranjal Mehta, The ePlane Company focuses on building compact electric aircraft for urban transportation. The Chennai-based startup has raised $21.5 million from investors including Speciale Invest, Antares Ventures, Micelio Mobility and Naval Ravikant.
The company's vision centres on improving what is known as mid-mile mobility, which refers to travel between important locations within a city over moderate distances. Instead of requiring new airport infrastructure, the e200X could eventually operate from existing helipads and suitable open spaces.
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Flight tests still ahead
Although the unveiling marks an important milestone, the aircraft is still under development. The ePlane Company plans to begin flight testing the full-scale prototype by mid-2027. Commercial services will only begin after extensive testing, certification and regulatory approvals are completed.
The startup has already achieved an important regulatory milestone by becoming the first private Indian company to receive Design Organisation Approval from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation for an electric aircraft. The type certification process for the e200X has been underway since December 2024.
What it means for India
India's major cities continue to face rising traffic congestion, pollution and long commuting times. While electric flying taxis are unlikely to replace buses, metro systems or conventional taxis, they could provide an efficient alternative for emergency medical transport, time-sensitive cargo deliveries and premium urban travel.
The e200X remains several steps away from commercial deployment, but its unveiling signals that India is becoming an active participant in the global race to build next-generation urban air mobility. If the aircraft successfully clears technical and regulatory hurdles, it could pave the way for an Indian-built flying taxi ecosystem in the years ahead.