Hyundai Motor Group has announced a temporary halt in the development of its ambitious Supernal eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft with the departures of the CEO Jaiwon Shin and CTO David MacBride. The decision, a significant blow to the future of urban air mobility, could have broader implications for the future of eVTOL and air taxis.
The Supernal eVTOL, which was first unveiled by Hyundai in 2020, was designed to be a cutting-edge electric aircraft that would transform urban transportation by providing fast, efficient, and eco-friendly aerial transit. Hyundai envisioned Supernal as a critical piece of its future mobility strategy, aiming to launch commercial air taxi services by the mid-2020s.
However, despite considerable investment and optimistic projections, the company revealed that technical and regulatory challenges have forced it to pause the project. In a statement, Hyundai cited issues related to achieving the required performance standards, particularly in battery efficiency, safety, and integration into existing air traffic management systems. Additionally, the company noted delays in securing regulatory approval, which has hampered its timeline for bringing the product to market.
Hyundai’s Supernal was one of the more high-profile projects in the race to make eVTOLs a reality, alongside companies like Joby Aviation, Archer Aviation, and Vertical Aerospace. The South Korean automaker’s decision to pause its plans may cast a shadow over the future of this emerging market, raising doubts about the feasibility of commercial flying taxis and electric aircraft.
Despite the halt, Hyundai has emphasized that it remains committed to the long-term vision of urban air mobility. The company has stated that it will refocus efforts on addressing the technical and regulatory obstacles and explore alternative pathways for advancing the Supernal program.
In the coming months, Hyundai will reportedly collaborate with its partners in the aviation and technology sectors to reassess the design and functionality of the aircraft. The automaker is also expected to engage more closely with regulators to expedite approval processes, hoping that a more favorable regulatory landscape will emerge in the next few years.