Volocopter has reshuffled its management team as it pursues new investment options and type certification of its VoloCity eVTOL aircraft with a revised target date in 2025. On November 18, the German company announced that former Lilium CFO Oliver Vogelgesang has joined in the same capacity, with Christian Bauer moving to the position of chief commercial officer.
In February 2025, Dirk Hoke is stepping down as Volocopter’s CEO, and the company has yet to announce who will replace the former senior Airbus executive. Hoke’s departure was announced in September, when former Daimler group CEO Dieter Zetsche was appointed as chairman of Volocopter’s advisory board. Zhihao Xu, CEO of Chinese automotive group Geely Technology, joined the board at the same time.
Having experienced some program delays relating to systems such as electric motors, Volocopter has accepted that the EASA type certification process will have to extend into 2025. After receiving improved motors in recent weeks, the company is expanding the flight test envelope with its full-scale prototype as it works to accrue the hours required for certification.
The company's engineering team recently test the VoloCity's motors and rotors for 50 hours in a wind tunnel at the Czech Aerospace Research Center in Prague. The evaluation is part of EASA's requirements to ensure the durability and performance of critical components under its SC-VTOL and SC-EHPS rules. It involves deploying various loads on the components to simulate structural integrity over their service life.
“The positive results of this test give us great confidence in the performance of our propulsion components, an important step on our way to type certification,” said Alexander Klingspor, Volocopter's head of propulsion.
More Funding Options For 2025
Like Lilium, Volocopter applied for loans from the German federal and state governments. Federal officials supported the application, but the company then opted not to proceed with the process after lining up support from an undisclosed private investor in May. It has indicated that it may pursue further funding options in 2025.
Vogelgesang had been with Lilium as CFO since January 2023, with that company now facing a struggle to secure alternative investment sources to continue development of its eVTOL aircraft. He has three decades of financial management experience in the aviation industry, having previously held senior positions with both Airbus and EADS.