Andhra Pradesh to Host India’s Largest Electric Air Taxi Manufacturing Factory

The Andhra Pradesh government has partnered with Bengaluru-based Sarla Aviation to establish India’s largest electric air taxi manufacturing facility in Anantapur.

• A Memorandum of Agreement was signed between Sarla Aviation (Accel-funded) and the Andhra Pradesh Airport Development Corporation Ltd (APADCL) during the CII Summit (Nov 14–15, Visakhapatnam).

‘Sky Factory’ – India’s First Giga-scale eVTOL Manufacturing Ecosystem

• Sarla Aviation will invest ₹1,300 crore to set up the Sky Factory, India’s first giga-scale electric air taxi manufacturing ecosystem.
• Phase 1 investment: ₹330 crore.
• Location: Thimmasamudram, Kalyandurg Mandal (Anantapur district).
• Phase 1 infrastructure (150 acres):
  • Advanced R&D labs
  • Aviation development centres
  • Composite material labs
  • Production lines
  • A dedicated 2-km runway for DGCA-certified flight testing

Global Benchmarking

• The Anantapur Sky Factory is modelled on advanced air-mobility hubs in California (USA) and Munich (Germany).
• Once fully operational, it will be one of the world’s largest eVTOL manufacturing hubs.

eVTOL – What It Means

eVTOL = Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing

• Takes off and lands vertically like a helicopter → no need for runways.
• Uses electric propulsion powered by batteries or other electric sources.
• Key advantages:
  • Lower noise
  • Reduced emissions
  • Higher efficiency than combustion-engine aircraft
• Components of an electric powertrain:
  • Battery pack
  • Electric motors
  • Power electronics (manage power distribution)

Source: IE