EBACE2024 Geneva
Finally our beloved Lilium Jet got her wings to fly and to lead the eVTOL trend. First, witness the movement of the ducted fans in the EBACE2024 event video summary: an extraordinary display resembling the spreading of wings, like a living bird.
But the wings with ducted fans – all competetors use propellors – are not enough to become the leading eVTOL in RAM. We need more such as the confirmation that this eVTOL is leading in market adoption. And exactly that happened in the past months.
First of all Lilium became leading in the USA: German DNA first in the USA! And just after that the same happened in MENA. Let’s highlight 3 important sales milestones.
Leading in the USA with URBANLINK
Miami – source www.flyurbanlink.com
In May Lilium announced their partnership with advanced air mobility (AAM) operator URBANLINK to operate Lilium Jets in South Florida. As part of the agreement, URBANLINK will purchase 20 Lilium Jets, with scheduled pre-delivery payments, and become the first airline in the U.S. fully committed to integrating eVTOL aircraft into its fleet. UrbanLink’s firm purchase order of 20 Lilium Jets, with an option for 20 more, includes scheduled pre-delivery payments. UrbanLink is led by Ed Wegel, he said: “While many airlines have discussed the potential of operating eVTOL aircraft, none have made a definitive commitment. UrbanLink will be the first airline in the U.S. to integrate eVTOL aircraft into its fleet. We are dedicated to revolutionizing the way people move to and from as well as within urban cores. After thorough evaluation of various manufacturers, we found the Lilium Jet to be the optimal choice for our needs, thanks to its superior cabin design, range, capacity, and cost-effectiveness.”
In this video Ed Wegel talks about the reasons why the Lilium Jet is the optimal choice and predicts that the demand for this product will be off the charts (video min 2:17). Watch this video to fully understand his predictions and why Lilium leads the eVTOL revolution and blows away competetors.
The 20/20 order seems not te be the end, in this LinkedIn publication Ed talks about his plans. “Our partnership with Skyway to plan and develop vertiports expands our reach across the US and the Caribbean as we work to deploy 100+ Lilium e-vtol aircraft. We continue to work on developing alliances and joint ride programs with ride sharing services, as well as a very unique frequent flyer program which we will roll out over the next 6 months. And.. we are looking at how best to integrate seaborne electric craft into our fleet to better serve our coastal community destinations in Florida, California and the Caribbean.”
Source www.flyurbanlink.com
Leading in MENA with Saudi Airlines
In July, Saudia Group and Lilium signed a binding sales agreement for 50 Lilium Jets, with options for the purchase of 50 more. The agreement provides for 50 Lilium Jets to be delivered in batches over four years starting in 2026, with certain of the batches subject to customary confirmation or cancellation rights at specified intervals. Lilium’s receipt of and access to PDPs to be paid pursuant to this agreement will depend upon achievement of agreed milestones and certain financial thresholds. Watch the Saudi – Lilium event video here.
This sales agreement, which follows the Memorandum of Understanding signed in October 2022, marks the largest of its kind in the MENA region and represents an important industry milestone as the largest reported firm order of eVTOL aircraft by an airline that plans to operate the aircraft. It signals a substantial commitment to electric aviation from a world-leading operator, as well as a clear preference towards the superior performance, economics, and passenger experience expected to be provided by the Lilium Jet. The agreement includes a schedule of deposit and pre-delivery payments, timeline of future deliveries, guarantees on aircraft performance, and provisions on spare parts, maintenance, and repairs. In addition, the parties intend to sign a comprehensive “Lilium POWER-ON” agreement for aircraft fleet maintenance and support services. H.E. Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of Saudia Group, commented at the signing event: “Saudia Group is proud to pioneer the MENA region as the first company to acquire all-electric eVTOL jets, which reflects our commitment to continuously reducing our carbon footprint and becoming an industry leader in regional electric aviation. We recognize the critical role that Lilium is positioned to play in enabling us to deliver a sustainable premium aviation experience and transport our guests even closer to their destination. This agreement amplifies our commitment to the Saudi Vision 2030 and is the result of a collaborative effort over the past years between Lilium and Saudia Group to explore how we can best bring eVTOL to the skies of Saudi Arabia. We are looking forward to the journey ahead.” He added: “The eVTOL jets are revolutionizing guest transportation. Their unique vertical take-off and landing capabilities open up entirely new routes. Imagine traveling up to 175 kilometers at speeds of 250 kilometers per hour, saving valuable time compared to traditional options. This technology also tackles traffic congestion head-on. Business travelers and exhibition attendees will benefit tremendously from the ease and speed of electric aircraft, allowing them to seamlessly attend and participate in events. These innovative vehicles will also be a game-changer for tourism, sports, and entertainment, offering a premium travel experience for these exciting destinations.” Through this agreement, Saudia Group continues its ambitious objective to bring the world to the Kingdom by deploying its fleet of advanced eVTOL jets. This initiative enhances connectivity by providing seamless first and last leg connections into Saudia Group’s regional hubs and new pointto-point city connections, such as Jeddah to Makkah, expected to reduce regional travel times by up to 90%.”
Leading in London Area
Also in Europe starts Lilium in a leading position. In May Lilium announced a binding sales agreement with eVolare for up to 16 Lilium Jets for the London Area, with an order for 4 Jets and reservations of slots for up to 12 Jets, also for clients fo eVolare.
Source Volare Aviation
Shaping an Ecosystem
In the journey to become global leader, we see Lilium infrastructure partnerships consistently preceding new sales deals with global or regional carriers.
- Lilium launches China legal entity as part of collaboration with the Bao’an District of Shenzhen
- Infrastructure partnership expansion with Luxaviation Group for EMEA region
- Infrastructure partnership UrbanV and Aeroports de la Côte d’Azur to create vertiport network in the French Riviera
- Infrastructure MOU SAE Milan Airports- Skyports to launch RAM network Northern Italy
- Infrastructure partnership Groupe ADP for Paris, France, Europe, Middle East and Asia
Lilium is in advanced discussions with additional global carriers that are looking to reduce carbon emissions and electrify regional air travel. Lilium’s order pipeline consists of 106 firm orders and reservations, 76 options, and roughly 600 aircraft under a memorandum of understanding, as of 26 July 2024. The aftersales Lilium POWER-ON program is very important to support global availability and is now also loaded with a digital solution suite with leading digital innovators.
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Disclaimer. Please note that this article is not an advice to buy or sell Lilium stock. Investing in startup’s is high risk and timing is difficult, you can lose all your money. So (the high) risk profile must fit your (high risk) appetite. We are not independent, we have a Lilium position. We firmly believe that Lilium becomes the leading eVTOL in Regional Air Mobility, and perhaps the leading eCTOL in RAM. We don’t believe in Urban Air Mobility (UAM) for a viable business model.
