Tata Elxsi and Sarla Aviation Partner to Build India’s First eVTOL

The collaboration leverages Sarla Aviation’s design vision and Tata Elxsi’s deep background in aerospace and digital engineering. Under the agreement, Tata Elxsi will provide essential support for avionics, flight control systems, and verification processes, while Sarla Aviation retains primary responsibility for the aircraft's core design and type certification.

Shunya is engineered for a range exceeding 300 kilometers, utilizing a hybrid design that pairs vertical lift with fixed-wing efficiency. By integrating sensor-fusion navigation and advanced structural design, the companies aim to streamline runway-independent operations. Sarla Aviation co-founders Adrian Schmidt and Rakesh Gaonkar, both formerly of Lilium, view this alliance as a bridge between conceptual engineering and scalable urban air mobility infrastructure.

Beyond the initial passenger-focused aircraft, the partnership is designed to foster local capabilities for logistics, air ambulances, and defense applications. With the first flight window targeted for 18 to 24 months, the project signals a shift in the domestic aerospace sector toward electrified, connected aviation platforms.