The proceeds will be utilised to advance the development of its prototype, establish a research and development centre, and expand its workforce, cofounder Adrian Schmidt told ET. The company is targeting a market launch by 2028.
Other angel investors participated in the funding round included Abhiraj Singh Bhal (Urban Company), Abhishek Goyal (Tracxn), Ramakant Sharma (LivSpace), Sujeet Kumar (Udaan), Manish Agarwal (Kratos) and Sandeep Nailwal (Polygon).
Sarla Aviation last year partnered with the Bengaluru international airport to facilitate the launch of a flying taxi service.
Founded in 2024 by engineers Schmidt, Rakesh Gaonkar and Shivam Chauhan, the company will unveil its first flying taxi prototype, Shunya, on January 17 at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo in New Delhi. The aircraft is designed to carry up to 680 kilograms, with a seating capacity for six passengers, excluding the pilot.
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“We are planning to utilise this funding round to progress the prototyping for Shunya, build components and make sure that we are on track to build flying taxis and launch them in 2028,” said Schmidt.The company plans to introduce its services in cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Pune, aiming to tackle urban challenges like traffic congestion and pollution.
According to Schmidt, ticket prices will be about a fourth of those of western competitors. Sarla Aviation also intends to launch a free air ambulance service.
This funding comes as Indian aviation authorities lay the groundwork for the introduction of air taxis by 2026. In September 2024, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation issued guidelines for obtaining airworthiness certification for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, promoting advanced air mobility solutions while ensuring safety and reliability.
Meanwhile, InterGlobe Enterprises, the parent company of IndiGo, has already placed an order for up to 200 air taxis with California-based aerospace firm Archer.
Prior to this round, Sarla Aviation raised $1.7 million in March 2024, in a seed funding round, also led by Accel.
“Sarla Aviation’s vision of affordable flying taxis addresses critical urban challenges such as traffic congestion, pollution, and the need for rapid medical response,” Pratik Agarwal, principal at Accel.
