Chennai-based deep-tech startup The ePlane Company has inaugurated India’s largest integrated prototyping and testing facility for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft at the IIT Madras Discovery Campus in Thaiyur. Spread across 60,000 sq. ft., the new facility marks a major shift in India’s Urban Air Mobility (UAM) journey, moving from small lab prototypes to full-scale aircraft production and certification-ready systems.

Inaugurated by the IIT Madras Director

The facility was officially opened by Professor V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras and a Padma Shri awardee. The 163-acre Discovery Campus has been designed to support high-technology ventures, and this new aerospace unit is among its most ambitious developments so far.

A Big Step Toward Serial Electric Aircraft Manufacturing

The new plant is India’s first integrated site dedicated to the serial production of electric aircraft. It brings together design, prototyping, subsystem integration, and testing teams under one roof.

The facility includes:

• Composite fabrication units

• Electric powertrain assembly lines

• Avionics testing infrastructure

• A dedicated Ground Test Vehicle (GTV) section for subsystem validation and full-scale development

The company will also carry out tethered hover tests here as it moves closer to Type Certification from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

The e200X: Built for Dense Cities

At the centre of this development is the company’s flagship aircraft, the e200X, described as the world’s most compact air taxi. With a patented 8m x 10m footprint and Synergistic Lift technology, the aircraft is designed to operate efficiently in congested urban areas. The company claims it achieves 35 percent higher energy efficiency compared to conventional designs, making it suitable for rooftop-to-rooftop mobility.

The startup is working closely with the DGCA to help define India’s certification and flight-testing framework for eVTOL aircraft. It has already received Design Organisation Approval (DOA) and acceptance of its Type Certification (TC) application, making it the first private Indian company to reach this stage.

Air Ambulances to Be the First Commercial Use Case

Instead of launching with passenger rides, the company is starting with air ambulance services. The goal is to reduce critical medical transport times across India by up to seven times, addressing one of the country’s most urgent mobility challenges.

Founder and Technical Lead Prof. Satya Chakravarthy said the new facility represents the company’s commercial engine for the future. He added that the larger vision is to make flying as common and accessible as taking a taxi, while adding a new layer to urban transportation.

Powered by the IIT Madras Ecosystem

The ePlane Company’s growth has been closely linked to the IIT Madras Incubation Cell. The institute provides what many call a “full-stack” ecosystem, offering infrastructure at the Discovery Campus, access to specialised engineering talent, and academic validation to ensure safety and technical rigour before flight testing begins.

The company also collaborates with global technology partners including NVIDIA, Amazon Web Services, Dassault Systèmes and Ansys for simulation, cloud infrastructure, avionics, and advanced engineering capabilities.

A Milestone for India’s Deep-Tech Ecosystem

This facility represents more than just a new factory. It signals India’s growing capability to design, test, certify, and manufacture complex aerospace systems within the country.

With indigenous manufacturing, regulatory collaboration, and global technology partnerships, The ePlane Company is positioning itself at the forefront of India’s electric aviation movement, aligned with the broader national vision of building advanced technologies under the “Viksit Bharat 2047” mission.

– By Shivani Solanki