Sarla Aviation, a Bengaluru-based aerospace startup, unveiled its prototype air taxi, Shunya, at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo, showcasing its vision to revolutionize urban transport with electric flying taxis by 2028. Capable of speeds up to 250 km/h and optimized for short-distance trips of 20-30 km, Shunya aims to drastically cut travel time in congested urban areas.
The air taxi is designed to carry up to six passengers with a maximum payload of 680 kg, positioning it as the highest-capacity eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) in the market. Founded in October 2023 by Adrian Schmidt, Rakesh Gaonkar, and Shivam Chauhan, Sarla Aviation recently secured $10 million in Series A funding, led by Accel. Angel investors such as Flipkart co-founder Binny Bansal and Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath also contributed.
“Shunya represents our commitment to redefining urban mobility in India,” said Adrian Schmidt, Co-founder and CEO of Sarla Aviation. “By tackling traffic congestion and pollution, we aim to unlock economic opportunities while building a cleaner, more connected future.”
The company plans to introduce its air taxi service in Bengaluru initially, with plans to expand to cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Pune. The service is expected to be priced competitively with current premium taxi offerings.
In addition to passenger transport, Sarla Aviation intends to launch a free air ambulance service to address critical healthcare needs and ensure rapid medical response in urban areas. The startup’s recent funding will accelerate technology development and support the establishment of a dedicated research and development center, enabling Sarla Aviation to bring its vision to life.
