ePlane Company to Supply 788 eVTOL Air Ambulances in $1 Billion Deal:

The ePlane Company, an Indian electric aircraft startup, announced on Monday a significant agreement to supply 788 air ambulances in a deal exceeding $1 billion. This initiative comes as India faces worsening traffic congestion in its urban centers.

Under this non-binding agreement, ePlane will deliver electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to ICATT, an air ambulance service provider, which aims to deploy them across all districts in India.

EVTOLs, powered by batteries, are poised to transform urban mobility by enabling vertical takeoff and landing, allowing commuters and emergency services to bypass road traffic.

India’s emerging eVTOL market also includes players such as Archer Aviation and Sarla Aviation.

ePlane is targeting commercial operations by the latter half of 2026, initially producing 100 units per year, according to its founder, Satya Chakravarthy.

"We can scale production and effectively integrate air ambulances before transitioning to air taxis," Chakravarthy said in an interview with Reuters. "Expanding air ambulances is a more organic approach compared to an immediate focus on air taxis."

The aircraft will have an initial range of approximately 110 kilometers (68.4 miles), with potential future upgrades extending beyond 200 kilometers.

Having raised $20 million from investors so far, ePlane plans to begin with three prototype ambulances, each accommodating a pilot, a paramedic, a patient, and a stretcher.

Chakravarthy, a professor at the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras, where the startup is incubated, stated that an additional $100 million will be needed to manufacture further prototypes, obtain type certification, and commence commercial production.