ePlane, an Indian electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) startup, has entered into a strategic partnership with Dassault Systèmes, the French leader in 3D design and digital simulation software, to expedite the development of its electric air taxi.
This collaboration will enable ePlane to utilize Dassault Systèmes’ cloud-based 3DExperience platform, streamlining design iterations, enhancing engineering collaboration, and accelerating the certification process with India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
ePlane leverages Dassault Systèmes’ industry-leading 3DEXPERIENCE platform, including the on-cloud applications, to enable rapid, model-based system engineering and end-to-end digital simulation. Dassault Systèmes’ cloud-based solutions have allowed ePlane to accelerate full aircraft design iterations, enhance multidisciplinary collaboration, and optimize complex engineering workflows, ensuring safety, reliability, and accelerated time-to-market.
Dr Satya Chakravarthy, Founder & CTO, The ePlane Company, said, “With Dassault Systèmes’ robust cloud and simulation technologies, our engineering team can validate designs faster and more efficiently, despite the inherent complexity of eVTOL geometries. Digital continuity across all phases of aircraft development significantly reduced engineering cycle times and de-risked critical certification milestones.”
Deepak NG, INDIA Managing Director, Dassault Systèmes, said, “ePlane’s work in urban air mobility demonstrates the transformative potential of digitalization in aerospace. By leveraging Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform on the cloud, ePlane is accelerating innovation and achieving efficient, safe, and certifiable development of their ePlane e200 air taxi. We are glad to be the technology partner enabling their vision for zero-emission, accessible, and sustainable urban transportation in India and beyond.”
Founded in 2019 by Satya Chakravarthy, ePlane is focused on revolutionizing urban mobility through its all-electric, zero-emission e200x air taxi. The e200x is promoted as the world’s most compact eVTOL, featuring an 8 by 10 metre footprint, a range of 115 kilometres, and the capacity to carry a pilot plus a 200-kilogram payload. Notably, ePlane is the first private Indian company to receive Design Organisation Approval from the DGCA for 2-19 seater aircraft. The DGCA accepted the company’s application for Type Certification of the e200x in December 2024, with operational readiness targeted for 2027-28.
