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Hyundai’s eVTOL Startup Supernal Pauses Operations After Executive Departures

Hyundai’s eVTOL Startup Supernal Pauses Operations Following Executive Departures
Hyundai’s electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) startup, Supernal, has temporarily halted its aircraft development program amid significant leadership changes and organizational restructuring. Sources cited by TechCrunch on September 7 revealed that the company’s CEO, Jaiwon Shin, who had been at the helm since Supernal’s inception in the United States in 2021, has stepped down. Additionally, Chief Technology Officer David McBride has also exited the company, intensifying uncertainty surrounding Supernal’s strategic direction and operational continuity.
Leadership Changes and Organizational Restructuring
The executive departures coincide with a broader restructuring effort within Supernal, which includes relocating its global headquarters from Washington, DC, to Irvine, California. The company has also implemented a workforce reduction of approximately five percent, as previously reported. Supernal has not provided comments regarding McBride’s exit, and neither the startup nor its parent company Hyundai responded to requests for further information.
Supernal had set ambitious goals to introduce a five-seat, battery-powered eVTOL aircraft designed for commercial intra-city passenger service by 2028. The company had also established partnerships with a private jet charter operator and a passenger helicopter service to develop the necessary infrastructure for air taxi operations. However, the recent operational pause and executive turnover have cast doubt on the feasibility of meeting the planned commercial launch timeline.
In an official statement, Supernal indicated that its new leadership team would “assess and determine the optimal timeline moving forward” for the commencement of commercial services. The temporary suspension of operations is intended to provide the incoming management with the opportunity to reevaluate the company’s strategy and future development trajectory.
Implications for the Advanced Air Mobility Sector
These developments occur at a pivotal moment for the advanced air mobility industry, where investor confidence and market momentum are heavily influenced by leadership stability and demonstrable progress toward commercialization. The consequences of Supernal’s restructuring on its competitors and the broader eVTOL market remain uncertain. Nonetheless, the company’s leadership upheaval and operational pause may affect investor sentiment and potentially alter the trajectory of this emerging sector.
Reuters was unable to independently verify the details of the report.

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