Supernal, a Hyundai subsidiary dedicated to urban air mobility (UAM), announced two key manufacturing partners for its SA-1 eVTOL air taxi during the Paris Airshow on Monday.
GKN Aerospace has agreed to provide the electrical wiring interconnection system (EWIS) and lightweight aerostructures for Supernal’s aircraft. Meanwhile, Qarbon Aerospace will use its advanced induction-welding techniques to assemble thermoplastic carbon-composite components for the SA-1.
The partners will work together to scale manufacturing technology and enable high-rate, lower-cost manufacturing processes. “Instead of focusing on ‘time to market,’ Supernal is prioritizing ‘time to scale,’” said Jaiwon Shin, Supernal CEO and president of Hyundai Motor Group. He added that Hyundai Motor Group’s automotive manufacturing expertise will also help to bolster manufacturing rates and reduce the cost and time of aircraft production.
“By incorporating advanced materials and processes in our manufacturing strategy from the start, Supernal will be prepared to expand eVTOL vehicle production capacity to meet demand surges when the industry takes off,” Shin said.
Supernal chief commercial officer Adam Slepian told AIN that the company intends to begin flying its first full-scale technology demonstrator aircraft toward the end of 2024, and the production aircraft will be ready to enter service in 2028. The company expects to produce several iterations of technology demonstrators and prototypes before settling on a “locked form” that will be used for certification testing, he said.