ePlane Opens India’s Largest eVTOL Facility at IIT Madras
AVIATION & AIRPORTS

ePlane Opens India’s Largest eVTOL Facility at IIT Madras


The ePlane Company (Ubifly Technologies Pvt. Ltd.) has inaugurated India’s largest integrated prototyping and testing facility for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft at the IIT Madras Discovery Campus in Thaiyur. Spread across 60,000 sq. ft., the facility marks a significant step in the country’s urban air mobility sector, advancing from design-stage concepts and subscale prototypes to flight-ready systems and full-scale certification testing.

The facility was inaugurated by V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras and Padma Shri recipient. The 163-acre Discovery Campus is designed to provide advanced infrastructure for deep-tech innovation and industrial-scale research.

Positioned as a strategic engineering hub, the site will support critical development milestones such as tethered hover testing as the company moves towards Type Certification from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. The facility integrates design, prototyping, subsystem testing and system integration teams in one location, supporting the development of passenger, cargo and relief eVTOL aircraft.

The campus houses composite fabrication units, electric powertrain assembly lines, avionics testing systems and a dedicated Ground Test Vehicle facility for subsystem validation and full-scale development. The company’s flagship e200X aircraft is engineered for dense urban environments, featuring an 8m x 10m footprint designed to enable compact rooftop-to-rooftop operations.

Commenting on the launch, Satya Chakravarthy, Founder and Technical Lead, The ePlane Company, said the facility represents a major step towards commercial deployment of urban air mobility solutions and aims to make air transport as accessible as conventional urban mobility.

The facility is also expected to strengthen India’s deep-tech ecosystem by enabling the physical integration and validation of complex aerospace systems while contributing to regulatory frameworks for electric aviation. Supported by IIT Madras’ incubation ecosystem, the initiative highlights the role of academic collaboration, specialised engineering talent and advanced infrastructure in driving indigenous aerospace innovation and sustainable mobility solutions.

The ePlane Company (Ubifly Technologies Pvt. Ltd.) has inaugurated India’s largest integrated prototyping and testing facility for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft at the IIT Madras Discovery Campus in Thaiyur. Spread across 60,000 sq. ft., the facility marks a significant step in the country’s urban air mobility sector, advancing from design-stage concepts and subscale prototypes to flight-ready systems and full-scale certification testing.The facility was inaugurated by V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras and Padma Shri recipient. The 163-acre Discovery Campus is designed to provide advanced infrastructure for deep-tech innovation and industrial-scale research.Positioned as a strategic engineering hub, the site will support critical development milestones such as tethered hover testing as the company moves towards Type Certification from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. The facility integrates design, prototyping, subsystem testing and system integration teams in one location, supporting the development of passenger, cargo and relief eVTOL aircraft.The campus houses composite fabrication units, electric powertrain assembly lines, avionics testing systems and a dedicated Ground Test Vehicle facility for subsystem validation and full-scale development. The company’s flagship e200X aircraft is engineered for dense urban environments, featuring an 8m x 10m footprint designed to enable compact rooftop-to-rooftop operations.Commenting on the launch, Satya Chakravarthy, Founder and Technical Lead, The ePlane Company, said the facility represents a major step towards commercial deployment of urban air mobility solutions and aims to make air transport as accessible as conventional urban mobility.The facility is also expected to strengthen India’s deep-tech ecosystem by enabling the physical integration and validation of complex aerospace systems while contributing to regulatory frameworks for electric aviation. Supported by IIT Madras’ incubation ecosystem, the initiative highlights the role of academic collaboration, specialised engineering talent and advanced infrastructure in driving indigenous aerospace innovation and sustainable mobility solutions.

Related Stories

Gold Stories

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Sabarmati Riverfront Two Plots Up for Auction at Rs2.24 bn Base Price

Two commercial plots on the western bank of the Sabarmati Riverfront will be auctioned with a base price of Rs 112 crore each, equivalent to Rs 1.12 bn apiece and Rs 2.24 billion in total. The parcels are located adjacent to the Metro Rail Bridge in Ahmedabad and form the first commercial offering after a prolonged pause. The Riverfront Development Corporation has framed the sale as part of a phased commercial release to revive development along the riverfront. The combined base valuation has been set by the corporation to reflect market rates along the riverfront. The corporation has fixed a ..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Andhra Pradesh to Connect Over One Million Streetlights

Andhra Pradesh will undertake a statewide smart streetlighting programme across all 123 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), bringing around 1.05 million (mn) streetlights under an AI enabled monitoring and management system. The programme will be implemented by Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) with the Commissioner and Director of Municipal Administration under the state Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department. The project aims to convert conventional streetlighting into a digitally managed municipal service monitored and maintained remotely. The initial phase will cover abou..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

AMC To Procure Four Machines For Guard Rail Cleaning

Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation will introduce four specialised machines for cleaning guard railings along major roads and the central verges of BRTS and Metro corridors. The civic body plans to replace manual labour with mechanised cleaning to improve maintenance of road infrastructure and greenery. The purchase is estimated at Rs 82.8 million (mn), excluding GST. The proposal sets the base price of each machine at about Rs 20.7 million (mn) so four units total Rs 82.8 million (mn) before GST. 18 per cent GST will be applicable separately. During the warranty period each machine will operate ..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement