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Electric Aircraft Startup Vaeridion Acquires Specialized Facility from Lilium

Electric Aircraft Startup Vaeridion Acquires Specialized Facility from Lilium
Electric aircraft startup Vaeridion has secured a lease and is poised to acquire a specialized facility from Lilium, the German eVTOL developer currently navigating insolvency proceedings, according to a report by Wirtschaftswoche. Vaeridion’s founder and CEO, Ivor van Dartel, confirmed that the company obtained approval from Lilium’s insolvency administrator to purchase critical technology housed at the site, including advanced laser welding equipment essential for aircraft manufacturing.
Distinct Approaches in Electric Aviation
While Lilium has concentrated on electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) air taxis, Vaeridion is developing a conventional electric aircraft designed for runway operations. The startup’s planned model will accommodate nine passengers alongside two pilots, offering an estimated range exceeding 400 kilometers with an emergency reserve. To support this ambitious project, Vaeridion successfully raised €14 million from investors in December.
The facility, situated at Oberpfaffenhofen Airport, holds particular strategic value for Vaeridion due to its fireproof room, a critical feature for safe battery production. Additionally, the site includes halls equipped for acoustic testing, originally constructed to meet Lilium’s development requirements. As Lilium shifts its business model, it aims to lease such specialized facilities to other companies within the electric mobility sector, promoting a “testing-as-a-service” approach.
Uncertainty Surrounding Lilium’s Future and Industry Challenges
Vaeridion’s acquisition occurs amid ongoing uncertainty about Lilium’s future. The proposed takeover of Lilium by Advanced Air Mobility Group (AAMG) remains unapproved by insolvency administrator Ivo-Meinert Willrodt of the Pluta law firm. Willrodt has expressed reservations about AAMG, a newcomer to the aviation industry whose CEO, Robert Kamp, has openly acknowledged his limited experience in the sector. Despite AAMG’s public commitment to continue research and development in Bavaria with a reduced workforce and plans to produce the first 50 air taxis locally before transferring series production to Japan, the administrator has yet to endorse the deal. This cautious stance follows a previous failed takeover attempt by Mobile Uplift Corporation, which culminated in Lilium’s second insolvency.
The transfer of the facility to Vaeridion also underscores broader challenges facing the electric aviation sector. Lilium’s incomplete development program and persistent certification hurdles have intensified skepticism within the industry regarding the viability of electric aircraft. Market participants remain cautious, closely monitoring regulatory progress and the ability of startups to fulfill their ambitious objectives. In response, rival companies are likely to accelerate efforts to secure regulatory approvals and expand their footprint in the emerging advanced air mobility market.
Meanwhile, Vaeridion has already onboarded eleven former Lilium engineers and plans further recruitment, signaling a strong commitment to advancing its electric aircraft program. Establishing a comparable facility independently would likely require approximately one year, highlighting the strategic importance of this acquisition as Vaeridion seeks to establish itself in a competitive and rapidly evolving industry.

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