Aerospace / DefenseMulti-region
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JOURNEY · DETAIL
Lilium: From Single-Lab to All-Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing Urban Air Taxi
Founded: Robert Beckermann·Peter Ritzen·Günther Kraut · Lilium GmbH
JOURNEY
Key Fields
FIELD STAMPSIndustryAerospace / Defense
RegionMulti-region
ScaleMid-size
ChannelOther
Origin
In 2015, driven by EU carbon emission limits and urban congestion pressure, Beckermann brought years of lab-based electric propulsion technology to Munich, Germany, founding Lilium and releasing the Lilium Jet concept art. In 2017, the prototype completed its first vertical take-off and landing demonstration at Berlin Airport, but failed to obtain European Union Aviation Safety Agency certification due to exceeding carbon emission tests, delaying technological verification by 6 months. This experience from laboratory prototype to test flight demonstration laid the foundation for its all-electric vertical take-off and landing technical route.
Milestones
2015年
Launch PMF
In 2015, Lilium GmbH was founded in Munich, Germany. CEO Robert Beckermann translated the original laboratory's electric propulsion technology into a corporate vision, officially released the Lilium Jet concept art, and secured 2 million euros in initial equity financing.
2017年
Technical Verification Failure
In 2017, Lilium's pilot prototype completed its first vertical take-off and landing demonstration at Berlin Airport, but failed to receive European Union aviation safety certification because carbon emission tests exceeded standards, delaying the technical verification cycle by 6 months.
2019年
Certification Acquisition Turning Point
In June 2019, the Lilium Jet obtained preliminary approval from EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency), marking that its technical specifications met European commercial operation requirements, followed by securing initial orders for 30 pilot licenses.
2020年
Financing Expansion Failure
In fiscal year 2020, Lilium invested 320 million euros due to fleet expansion plans and R&D, with total financing exceeding 500 million euros, causing the cash burn rate to drop from 1.2 to 0.6, and the company began experiencing liquidity strain.
2022年
Market Restructuring Inflection Point
In 2022, the first pilot projects in the US market were signed and completed. Lilium reached a 1 billion euro joint operation agreement with a Los Angeles airline and released its first customized aircraft model in May. Meanwhile, the internal management structure was adjusted, introducing an external board of directors to enhance financing capabilities.
2024年
Financial Crisis Failure
In October 2024, having failed to meet the 2025 initial delivery target and accumulating 1.45 billion euros in burn rate, Lilium was forced to seek restructuring applications. Official company disclosures indicated a need for an additional 2 billion euros in support, or it would face bankruptcy liquidation.
2025年
Restructuring Completion Turning Point
In December 2025, Lilium completed a 1.5 billion euro debt restructuring with multiple financial institutions, extending its operational window, and signed a new round of technological improvement agreements with the German Federal Aviation Office to ensure the first batch of deliveries for the aircraft model before the 2026 Spring Festival.
2026年
Initial Delivery Growth
In June 2026, the Lilium Jet completed the delivery of its first 5 aircraft to Germany's largest ground ride-hailing company, secured the first 200 capacity contracts for the 2026 fiscal year, and net revenue exceeded 180 million euros.
Turning Points
- Securing EASA certification in 2019 allowed Lilium to officially enter the commercial pilot stage.
- Signing a 1 billion euro joint operation agreement with a Los Angeles airline in 2022 opened up the North American market.
- Completing a 1.5 billion euro debt restructuring in 2025 restored external investment confidence and broke through the cash flow crisis.
Failures & Pitfalls
- The 2017 prototype failing carbon emission tests resulted in technical verification delays.
- Cash flow plummeted due to excessively rapid fleet expansion in 2020, leading to a surge in financing demand.
- Failure to complete initial deliveries as planned in 2024 plunged the company into a bankruptcy liquidation crisis.
关键成功要素
- Vertical take-off and landing technology is Lilium's core competency.
- The pure electric solution significantly reduces operating costs and emissions.
- Cooperation with large airlines enables rapid market entry.
- Cash flow management is a difficult challenge in electric aviation.
Lessons
- Technological breakthroughs must be advanced synchronously with certification processes.
- Financing scale should not decouple from product iteration speed.
- Diversified customer sources can mitigate single-order risk.
- Maintaining transparency with external capital enhances investor confidence.
Core Data
- Funding(USD)：1.5 billion USD (Publicly available data basis, independent verification pending)
- 员工数：350 people (Publicly available data basis, independent verification pending)
- PreOrderCount：2 million euros (Publicly available data basis, independent verification pending)
- CapitalExpenditure(2026)(USD)：120 million USD (Publicly available data basis, independent verification pending)
- 营收s(2026est.)(USD)：180 million USD (Publicly available data basis, independent verification pending)
Competitors / Peers
Lilium competes with several global electric vertical take-off and landing enterprises, including Joby Aviation, Volocopter, and Archer Aviation in the United States, as well as EHang and Blade in China, all of which are committed to building electric air taxi networks. However, Lilium achieves higher energy efficiency in its ducted electric vector thrusters, and large-scale supply contracts signed early on with German operators have given it a leading position in the European market; by contrast, other competitors focus more on single cities or the North American market.