Nikhil Kamath-backed aerospace startup Sarla Aviation starts ground testing for half scale Made-in-India eVTOL Air Taxi in Bengaluru

Bengaluru-based Sarla Aviation has started ground testing its half-scale electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) demonstrator, SYLLA SYL-X1. 

With a wingspan of 7.5 meters, it is the largest privately developed eVTOL in India. This testing marks an important step toward launching India’s first locally built air taxis.

Sarla Aviation Begins Air Taxi Testing

The ground testing will help Sarla check the aircraft’s structure, propulsion system, and safety features. SYLLA SYL-X1 is a sub-scale model, built to test how the full-size aircraft will perform in real conditions.

Rakesh Gaonkar, Co-Founder and CTO of Sarla Aviation, said, “This milestone shows what Indian engineers can achieve with hard work and careful planning. Our goal is not just to be first, but to build an aircraft that is safe, reliable, and made entirely in India.”

Sarla plans to start commercial flying taxi services in Bengaluru by 2028, followed by Mumbai and Delhi within two months, with plans to expand to Pune. The company also plans to provide a free air ambulance service in these cities.

The full-size Shunya aircraft will carry six passengers, handle a maximum payload of 680 kilograms, and fly at speeds of up to 250 km/h. The prototype was shown at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo in New Delhi in January 2025.

Also Read: Delhi’s Environment Minister calls for action, polluting factories to be sealed without notice, warning to pvt firms not following WFH

About Sarla Aviation

Sarla Aviation is a Bengaluru-based startup focused on urban air mobility. It has raised USD 13 million, including a Series A1 round led by Accel, with support from investors like Binny Bansal, Nikhil Kamath, and Sriharsha Majety.

The company has signed an agreement with the Andhra Pradesh government to build a 500-acre air mobility facility in Thimmasamudram, Anantapur district. This $150 million facility will support aircraft manufacturing, testing, pilot training, and maintenance.

With the half-scale demonstrator in testing, Sarla Aviation aims to bring locally built, certified eVTOL aircraft to India’s growing urban air mobility market, combining skilled Indian engineers with global aviation knowledge.

Also Read: Foxconn hires 30,000 staff at new iPhone assembly unit in Karnataka's Devanahalli, 80% of workforce being women