India’s first flying taxi prototype, ‘Shunya’, has been unveiled at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025. The aerospace startup Sarla Aviation has exhibited this prototype air taxi set to launch in Bengaluru by 2028, followed by Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, and other major cities.
Sarla Aviation claims that Shunya is the highest-payload electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft on the market which can carry up to six passengers and a maximum payload of 680 kg. The vehicle’s top speed is 250 km/h which can be optimised around 20 to 30 km for short trips.
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Sarla Aviation revolutionising air travel with 'Shunya'
Founded in 2023 and named after India’s first woman pilot Sarla Thukral, the startup Sarla Aviation envisions a future where air travel is sustainable and efficient. The Bengaluru-based startup’s founder shared that this electric air taxi would bring a game-changing solution by reducing travel times in congested urban areas.
"By addressing challenges like traffic congestion and pollution, we aim to unlock India’s economic potential while paving the way for a cleaner and more connected future," said Adrian Schmidt, Co-Founder and CEO of Sarla Aviation.
"Our journey is deeply rooted in the ideals of Atma Nirbhar Bharat, as we work to create homegrown, world-class solutions that place India at the forefront of global aviation innovation," Schmidt added.
Precision manufacturing firm Sona SPEED signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Sarla Aviation for this project.
Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, HD Kumaraswamy, visited the Sarla Aviation booth and commended the flying taxi prototype.
“This partnership is a significant step in Sona SPEED’s evolution as a hub for aerospace innovation. Together, we aim to shape a cleaner, faster, and more efficient future for urban transportation,” said Chocko Valliappa, CEO of Sona SPEED.
Additionally, Sarla Aviation disclosed in a press release its plans to introduce a free air ambulance service to accelerate medical treatments in urban environments.
Notably, Sarla Aviation recently secured $10 million in Series A1 funding, led by Accel, with participation from prominent angel investors, including Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath and Flipkart co-founder Binny Bansal.
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