Lilium signs sales deal with Saudi Arabia for up to 100 eVTOL aircraft

Lilium, a German-based electric aircraft manufacturer, announced that it has signed a binding sales agreement for up to 100 electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft with Saudia Group, which operates Saudi Arabia’s largest airline and is wholly owned by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The company said the contract is a “firm order” for 50 Lilium jets, with an option to buy up to 50 more. The deal builds on a 2022 memorandum of understanding between Lilium and Saudia to explore ways in which battery-powered multirotor aircraft can address transportation challenges in the region.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed but could be worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Lilium has said it will sell the Pioneer plane for $10 million to a private buyer in the U.S. who wants to trade in polluting private jets for greener options.

Lilium is one of a handful of companies that want to replace noisy, polluting helicopters and regional aircraft with all-electric multirotor aircraft designed for short trips between nearby airports or from dense urban centers to regional airports.

Lilium Jet It features egg-shaped rapid-fire wings, one at the front and one at the rear, which house a total of 30 battery-electric motors that can tilt downward for vertical takeoff and hovering, and move flush with the wings for forward flight.

Lilium is not the first eVTOL company to see a potential market in the Middle East. China’s Ehang is testing its vehicles in Mecca for future air taxi services. Two other companies, Eve and JobyThe two companies have a similar deal in place with a Saudi Arabia-based airline for future sales.