Archive · 2 Sep 2026
Tata Elxsi, Sarla Aviation Partner on India’s Electric Air Taxi
Tata Elxsi and Sarla Aviation are working together to build an electric aircraft called Shunya.
The aircraft can take off and land vertically, like a helicopter, but fly forward like an airplane.
It is planned to carry one pilot and six passengers.
The aircraft is designed to fly more than 300 kilometres.
Tata Elxsi will help with the aircraft’s computers, flight controls, testing and safety approvals.
Sarla Aviation will remain in charge of designing and building the aircraft.
The companies hope Shunya will eventually help people travel between airports, cities and other places more quickly.
Sarla is aiming to fly the full-sized aircraft for the first time within 18 to 24 months.
Tata Elxsi and Bengaluru-based Sarla Aviation signed an MoU to develop the Shunya electric air taxi.
Tata Elxsi will support avionics, flight controls, software integration, testing, validation and certification.
Sarla Aviation will lead Shunya’s overall design, development and type-certification process.
Shunya is planned as a seven-seat eVTOL aircraft, including one pilot, with a range of more than 300 kilometres.
Sarla Aviation is targeting Shunya’s first flight within 18 to 24 months, following tests of its Sylla demonstrator.
- Who
- Tata Elxsi and Bengaluru-based startup Sarla Aviation.
- What
- They signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on developing Shunya, an electric vertical take-off and landing air taxi.
- When
- The agreement was announced on September 1, 2026; Shunya’s first flight is targeted within 18 to 24 months.
- Where
- The partnership involves India, with Sarla Aviation based in Bengaluru.
- Why
- Tata Elxsi will provide engineering and certification support as Sarla moves from technology demonstrations toward a full-scale passenger aircraft.
- Aircraft
- Shunya, a planned electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft
- Seating
- Seven seats: six passengers and one pilot
- Designed range
- More than 300 kilometres
- Tata Elxsi’s role
- Avionics, flight controls, software integration, testing, verification, validation and certification support
- Sarla Aviation’s role
- Overall aircraft design and development, plus leadership of type certification
- First-flight target
- Within 18 to 24 months
- Demonstrator testing
- The Sylla demonstrator completed more than 500 test points and over 18 hours of flight time during a six-month campaign