Andhra Pradesh signs MoU with Sarla Aviation to build India’s first gigascale eVTOL manufacturing hub with a ₹1,300-crore investment.
New Delhi ( Economy India): India is set to take a major leap in green aviation as Andhra Pradesh becomes home to the country’s first gigascale electric air-taxi hub, following a landmark MoU between the Andhra Pradesh government and Bengaluru-based Sarla Aviation.
The ambitious project includes a state-of-the-art eVTOL (Electric Vertical Take-off and Landing) manufacturing facility, designed to place India among the top global players in next-generation aerial mobility.
A ₹1,300-Crore Giga Project in Anantapur
The upcoming Sky Factory, to be built near Thimmasamudram in Kalyandurg Mandal of Anantapur, will span 150 acres in Phase-1, with plans to expand to 500 acres in later phases.
Key Highlights
- Total Investment: ₹1,300 crore
- Phase 1: ₹330 crore
- Phase 2 expansion: Additional ₹950 crore
- Project Capacity: 1,000 next-gen electric aircraft per year
- Infrastructure:
- Production lines
- R&D centres
- Composites labs
- 2-km DGCA-certified testing runway
- Target: Commercial operations by 2029
The facility will produce Sarla’s flagship “Shunya” hybrid VTOL aircraft, advanced landing gear systems, electrical harness systems, and high-end composite structures—creating the first truly integrated eVTOL ecosystem in India.
Why This Matters for India
The eVTOL sector is one of the fastest-growing global aviation industries, with major hubs in California and Munich. With this mega facility, India is positioning itself as a future nerve centre for clean aviation technologies.
The Andhra Pradesh Airport Development Corporation Ltd. (APADCL) will fast-track the approvals, testing zones, and certification infrastructure.
About Sarla Aviation
Founded in 2023 in Karnataka, Sarla Aviation is backed by global private equity investor Accel.
The company is developing a six-seater electric flying taxi, aimed at drastically reducing urban commute times in metros like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi, and Mumbai.
What is eVTOL?
- 100% electric or hybrid
- Vertical take-off and landing
- Zero runway requirement
- Ultra-low noise
- Cheaper to operate than helicopters
India’s adoption of eVTOL could transform inter-city mobility, emergency services, and logistics.
Job Creation: 180 Jobs by 2027, Thousands Long-Term
The project is expected to create:
- 40 specialized jobs (Aerospace engineers, composites experts, R&D scientists)
- 140 indirect jobs by 2027
- Thousands of high-value jobs over the next decade, once mass production begins
The state government sees the project as a crucial step toward making Andhra Pradesh the “Advanced Manufacturing Capital of India”.
Industry Voices: Sarla Aviation CTO on India’s Aviation Future
Rakesh Gaonkar, Co-founder & CTO of Sarla Aviation, said:
“With the world’s biggest Sky Factory, we want to make India the nerve centre of the next era of flight. This gigascale facility will shape future aircraft, create thousands of high-skill jobs and make India a global force in sustainable aerial mobility.”
He further added that the goal is to design, build, test, fly, and operate the world’s most advanced eVTOL systems from one integrated campus.
The MoU was signed during the CII Partnership Summit 2025, showcasing India’s emerging strength in future aviation technologies.
First Drone Taxi in Andhra Pradesh Within Two Years
The government confirmed that India’s first drone taxi will be rolled out within two years, marking the beginning of commercial testing and pilot operations.
The timeline:
- 2025–27: Facility development, testing, job creation
- 2027: First batch of specialized aerospace jobs
- 2027: Prototype flight and pre-commercial testing
- 2029: Start of full commercial air-taxi operations
The service could later be integrated with UDAN, India’s regional air-connectivity scheme.
Global Market Outlook
The global eVTOL market is projected to reach multi-billion-dollar revenues by 2030, driven by:
- Green energy policies
- Rise of urban air mobility
- Technological advancements in batteries
By launching this gigascale eVTOL hub, India aims to secure a significant share of the global clean-aviation supply chain.
The establishment of India’s first electric air-taxi hub in Andhra Pradesh marks a turning point in the country’s aviation ecosystem. The project will:
- Boost India’s green mobility mission
- Bring cutting-edge aerospace manufacturing to the country
- Generate thousands of high-skilled jobs
- Position India as a global leader in sustainable air transportation
With the first drone taxis set to fly within two years, India is fast approaching a future where flying taxis become a mainstream mode of transport.
(Economy India)
