China's Volant Aerotech Secures Additional eVTOL Funding

Chinese eVTOL aircraft developer Volant Aerotech has completed its second major funding milestone within a month. Its Series C financing round— which the company says has raised nearly RMB 1 billion ($150 million)—will be used to advance its VE25-100 Skylar model towards certification.

The Shanghai-based start-up believes its investment history represents “a fundraising record in China’s manned eVTOL industry,” having secured over RMB 5 billion over the last five years. It most recent round was led by state-owned insurance investment platform China Life Investment, with participation from new and existing shareholders.

According to Volant, the diversity of its shareholder portfolio is “meticulously designed to support the intensive research and development cycles, stringent airworthiness certifications, and global market expansion unique to the eVTOL sector.” Investors include global venture capital groups, national insurance funds, state-owned capital, "industrial chain leaders", and private equity interests.

The VE25-100 Skylar, which is designed for a single pilot and five passengers, is expected to serve short-range transport and emergency rescue missions. In September 2025, Volant made the first piloted, untethered flight of AC101, the first aircraft in its VE25-100 development batch. It expects to complete Chinese type certification in 2027.

The company claims over 1,900 domestic orders for the VE25-100 to date, through announced partnerships with China Southern Airlines, Asian Express Aviation, and ABC Financial Leasing. In July 2025, a landmark $1.75 billion provisional order saw Thailand’s Pan-Pacific Co order 500 units. If confirmed, Volant claimed this would set a record for Chinese passenger eVTOL exports.