Bengaluru-based Sarla Aviation has revealed plans to invest INR 1,300 crore in a 500-acre aerospace manufacturing facility in Andhra Pradesh.
The company stated that the new site will serve as a next-generation, integrated Urban Air Mobility (UAM) giga facility, focused on producing electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft and supporting India’s transition to aerial mobility.
“With an initial investment of INR 1,300 crore and significant additional investment planned in the future, the project positions India as a global contender in future aviation technologies,” the company said in a statement.
The facility is set to become India’s first fully integrated hub for eVTOL aircraft, covering manufacturing, flight testing, certification, training, and maintenance. Once up and running, it will have the capacity to produce up to 1,000 aircraft annually.
The company said that only a few places in the world — like California and Munich — are currently emerging as major centres for eVTOL manufacturing. It added that under the Chief Minister’s leadership, Andhra Pradesh is on track to become the next global hub for this rapidly growing industry.
“We are honoured to contribute to this historic transformation and look forward to building an advanced ecosystem for air mobility in the state,” the statement said.
Founded in 2023 by Rakesh Gaonkar, Adrian Schmidt, and Shivam Chauhan, Sarla Aviation combines global expertise from top eVTOL developers, including Lilium, Volocopter, and Joby Aviation.
The company’s flagship project is a six-seater electric flying taxi aimed at reducing travel time in crowded cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi, and Pune, making air mobility more convenient for daily commuters and business travelers.
The upcoming sky factory will have modern production lines for making key parts of eVTOL aircraft, including composites, engines, wiring systems, landing gear, flight control computers, and other embedded systems. It will also include India’s largest wind tunnel, a two-kilometre runway, and special testing areas for VTOL aircraft.
The campus will also feature R&D labs, simulation centers, pilot training units, and maintenance facilities. This setup will allow the entire lifecycle of eVTOL aircraft — from design and testing to operation and maintenance — to be handled entirely within India.
The company said the campus is being designed with sustainability in mind, integrating renewable energy, water recycling, and circular economy practices.
Sarla Aviation is also working with the Andhra Pradesh government to co-develop certification infrastructure and dedicated UAM corridors to begin commercial air taxi services across South Indian cities by 2029.
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