Lilium is in “advanced discussions” with the French government to set up a Lilium Jet production plant in France.
The German company aims to leverage the country’s extensive aerospace supplier network for the serial production of its all-electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) jet. The announcement was made during the “Choose France” summit, an initiative created in 2018 by French President Emmanuel Macron to stimulate foreign investments.
Lilium is exploring potential strategic partnerships and subsidies to facilitate its expansion plans. If successful, this €400 million investment over several years could create up to 850 new direct jobs in New Aquitaine, France, according to the manufacturer. The region already includes industrial sites of aerospace giants such as Airbus, Safran, Dassault Aviation, and Thales.
The Munich-based startup was founded in 2015 and is now approaching the last critical stages before launching its electrically powered vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
The Lilium Jet will be able to carry five people (four passengers and a pilot) over distances of up to 175 kilometers (about 108.74 miles). It uses Ducted Electric Vectored Thrust (DEVT) technology, which allows the aircraft to take off vertically and then accelerate horizontally, resembling the takeoff of a tiltrotor aircraft.