The ePlane Company has opened an integrated facility for prototyping and testing electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft at the IIT Madras Discovery Campus in Thaiyur.
It spans 60,000 square feet, and the new centre marks a major shift for India’s urban air mobility sector, moving from small-scale lab prototypes to full-scale aircraft production and testing. The facility was officially inaugurated by Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras.
The new hub brings together design, manufacturing, integration and testing teams under one roof, the startup said. The plant includes composite fabrication units, electric powertrain assembly lines, avionics testing labs, and a dedicated ground-test-vehicle section for subsystem validation.
It will support the development of the company’s electric air taxi, the e200X.
According to the company, the e200X is designed specifically for crowded cities. With a compact 8m x 10m landing footprint. It aims to operate from rooftops and tight urban spaces. The aircraft uses what the company calls “Synergistic Lift” technology, which improves energy efficiency by nearly 35% compare to conventional designs.
Beyond aircraft development, the company is also working closely with India’s aviation regulator to build certification and testing standards for eVTOL aircraft. It has already received Design Organisation Approval and acceptance for its type certification application, a first for a private Indian company in this space.
"This facility is the engine of our commercial future," said Prof Satya Chakravarthy, Founder of The ePlane Company, in a statement. He added that with IIT Madras' support, they have fulfilled their vision of making flying as common and affordable as taking a taxi. This isn't just about moving people; it’s about adding another layer of transport to the future of human mobility.
The project also highlights the growing deep tech ecosystem at IIT Madras. Through its Incubation Cell and Discovery Campus, the institute provides infrastructure, research support, and engineering talent to help startups scale advanced hardware technologies.
With this launch, The ePlane Company aims to position India as a serious player in electric aviation, focusing on locally designed, energy-efficient aircraft built for some of the world’s most densely populated cities.
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