Lilium, a pioneering company working on developing flying taxis that can take off and land vertically, has suddenly ceased all operations and laid off approximately 1,000 employees. The shocking news comes after the German-based firm failed to secure the necessary financing to continue advancing its innovative technology.
According to reports from German media outlet Gründerszene, the company’s abrupt shutdown was confirmed by Patrick Nathen, Lilium’s co-founder, on LinkedIn. In his statement, Nathen revealed that he and his fellow founders could no longer continue working towards their shared vision of greener aviation under the Lilium umbrella.
For those unfamiliar, Lilium has been actively testing its Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) electric air taxis for several years now. The company’s maiden flight took place in 2017, followed by the completion of its first phase of flight tests in 2019. Notably, Lilium successfully demonstrated that its VTOL air taxis were capable of flying at speeds exceeding 100 kilometers per hour.
However, despite previous promises to bring its flagship prototype, Lilium Jet, to life, the company struggled financially over the past year. This latest development marks a significant setback for the industry, as Lilium was one of the most prominent players in the field of electric and sustainable aviation.
As Gründerszene reports, a small number of employees will remain on board to aid in the liquidation process. It remains unclear what will happen to the company’s intellectual property and other assets. Meanwhile, patent attorney Fabien Müller took to social media to assure that he is overseeing the transition of Lilium’s intellectual property.
In the wake of this news, questions surrounding the fate of Lilium’s technology and innovations remain unanswered. Will the firm’s groundbreaking work be sold or licensed to another company? Only time will tell.
Source: www.engadget.com