Summary:
Supernal, Hyundai's eVTOL startup, has paused its aircraft program after the CEO and CTO departed amid staff cuts.
The first test flight happened earlier this year, but the company was still working on an untethered test flight before the halt.
Plans for a commercial service by 2028 are under review by new leadership, reflecting industry-wide challenges in electric air taxis.
Supernal laid off employees and closed its D.C. headquarters, part of a broader shakeup within Hyundai's futuristic ventures.
This follows similar issues at Hyundai's autonomous vehicle startup Motional, highlighting risks in advanced mobility investments.
Hyundai's eVTOL Startup Supernal Pauses Work After Leadership Shakeup
Hyundai's electric air taxi startup Supernal has put its aircraft program on hold following a series of setbacks, including staff cuts and the departure of its CEO and CTO, according to sources familiar with the matter.
This disruption comes at a critical time for Supernal, which has only recently begun flight testing. The first test flight of its technology demonstrator occurred earlier this year, and the company was still working towards its first untethered test flight before the pause. Originally, Supernal had ambitious plans to launch a commercial service by 2028.
Last week, Supernal announced the departure of CEO Jaiwon Shin, and sources confirm that CTO David McBride has also left. The pause on the flight program was first reported by the OC Register. In response to inquiries about the commercial timeline, Supernal stated that new leadership will reassess and determine the optimal path forward, while declining to comment on McBride's exit.
Supernal's challenges reflect broader turmoil in the electric air taxi industry. While some startups, like Toyota-backed Joby, are securing partnerships and acquisitions, others such as Lillium have gone out of business.
Spun out of the Hyundai Group in 2021, Supernal laid off dozens of employees earlier this summer and abruptly closed its Washington, D.C. headquarters late last year. David Rottblatt, Supernal's senior business development director, is now serving as Interim COO during this transition. Hyundai plans to appoint new leadership with expertise in business operations to advance Urban Air Mobility (UAM) solutions.
The initial test flight had been highly anticipated, with former CEO Shin emphasizing readiness to push technological limits at the 2024 Consumer Electronics Show. McBride had previously expressed confidence that the flight would validate the aircraft's capabilities ahead of the 2028 launch.
This isn't the first time a futuristic startup under Hyundai has faced difficulties. In 2024, the conglomerate had to restructure its autonomous vehicle startup Motional after partner Aptiv withdrew funding, leading to significant layoffs and the CEO's departure.
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