"FRIEDRICHSHAFEN. A new model, a fresh start: Volocopter, the air taxi developer based in Baden-Württemberg, is unveiling a new aircraft. It is an evolution of the "Volo2x" model—the aircraft the company had originally intended to use to transport passengers for the first time at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, though ultimately it only performed demonstration flights at the Palace of Versailles.
The new aircraft, the "VoloXPro," is an electrically powered ultralight multicopter featuring 18 rotors; it can carry one passenger in addition to the pilot.
According to the company, the target groups in Europe are primarily private pilots, as well as operators of sightseeing flights and flight schools that intend to offer multicopter training using the aircraft.
Volocopter hopes that the German ultralight aviation association will grant flight clearance for the multicopter by the end of this year—running in parallel with other certification processes in other European countries. Like other companies—particularly those from China—Volocopter envisions such aircraft relieving traffic congestion in major cities with zero emissions in the near future.
A year and a half ago in Paris, Volocopter—together with the Paris airport operator ADP—aimed to demonstrate that this concept was not merely a science-fiction dream; plans included regular shuttle services and tourist sightseeing flights. However, this did not materialize because the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) did not certify the predecessor to the version now being presented.
Now, the plan is for the aircraft to be licensed as an ultralight vehicle. "With the ultralight VoloXPro, electric multicopter flight—offering the safety standards of a passenger airliner—becomes a reality for private customers and commercial operators," says Volocopter CTO David Bausek. Certification for Asian markets such as China and Saudi Arabia is planned for 2027; the multicopter is intended to be used for the commercial transport of passengers, for instance, traveling from airports located outside the city to the centers of major metropolitan areas.
The aircraft has a range of 40 kilometers on a single charge and a cruising speed of 70 kilometers per hour.
The company unveiled the new model at the Aero aviation trade fair in Friedrichshafen (on Lake Constance), though the aircraft itself was not on display there. According to the company, the prototype is constantly airborne for test flights at Volocopter’s headquarters in Bruchsal, Baden-Württemberg, to ensure the certification process remains on track. At the Aero fair, Volocopter showcased the larger "VoloCity" model, which can also carry a passenger while handling a heavier payload. This multicopter has been flying for over two years and is slated for certification by EASA by the end of 2027.
The multicopters are intended to take off from "vertiports"—takeoff and landing sites specifically designed for air taxis—located within major city centers. "Noise levels are not an issue, even in densely populated cities; the air taxis produce no more than 65 decibels of noise," explains development engineer Dilli Babu Mohan at the Volocopter stand in Friedrichshafen.
According to the engineer, the cost is around one million euros for the VoloCity model and approximately half a million for the "VoloXPro" model.
The Baden-Württemberg-based start-up has been part of the automotive supplier Wanfeng for just over a year. After Volocopter faced insolvency in late 2024, the Chinese automotive supplier acquired the company through its Austrian subsidiary, Diamond Aircraft. The Chinese state also holds a stake in Volocopter: while Wanfeng owns a majority share of the aircraft manufacturer Diamond Aircraft, investment funds from the People's Republic hold approximately 45 percent.” [1]
1. Luft-Taxi als Ultraleichtfluggerät: Volocopter startet ein Jahr nach Übernahme neu. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung; Frankfurt. 28 Apr 2026: 19.
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