Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL), the world’s leading manufacturer of electric vehicle batteries, has made a significant strategic investment in Autoflight, a prominent Chinese electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) startup. The investment, valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars, was announced on August 3 and marks CATL’s first foray into the rapidly evolving eVTOL market.
The partnership aims to leverage CATL’s expertise in battery technology to advance eVTOL capabilities. The collaboration will focus on improving battery energy density, safety protocols and overall performance, with the ultimate goal of extending the flight range and increasing the payload capacity of eVTOL aircraft.
Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Shanghai, Autoflight has been at the forefront of eVTOL development in China. The company recently achieved significant milestones, including a successful 25-kilometer round-trip test flight across the Yangtze River, demonstrating the viability of its technology.
For CATL, this investment represents a strategic diversification beyond its core automotive battery business. The company has been developing its proprietary “Condensed Battery” technology specifically for aviation applications. CATL’s ambitious goal is to enable electric aircraft flights of up to 3,000 kilometers by 2028, potentially transforming short- and medium-haul air travel.
This collaboration between CATL, a global leader in energy storage solutions, and Autoflight, an innovative eVTOL developer, represents a major step forward in urban air mobility. As the industry moves towards commercialization, such partnerships are likely to accelerate the development and deployment of electric air taxis and cargo drones, reshaping the urban transportation landscape in the near future.
Source: CnEVPost, AutoFlight News
