The Philippines could become a hub of electric flying cars as German air mobility firm Lilium looks to build its first Southeast Asia operation network for all-electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) jets in the country.

In paving the landscape of “flying cars” within the region, local aviation services company PhilJets and Lilium will sign a memorandum of understanding, on Tuesday afternoon, at the Singapore Airshow, for the strategic partnership.

Per Lilium Chief Commercial Officer Sebastien Borel, the strategic collaboration with PhilJets will serve as a crucial point in expanding the company’s footprint in Asia—more specifically, in Southeast Asia.

Borel added that the Philippines is “well-suited for eVTOLs” as far as building effective connections to thousands of islands via “sustainable and high-speed mobility”.

With the Philippines as the launching pad, Lilium also looks to bring “flying cars” to another Southeast Asian nation—Cambodia.

Under the MOU, PhilJets is looking to acquire 10 Lilium jets, initially.

PhilJets Chairman Thierry Tea expresses joy with the partnership, citing the country’s “growing economy, geography, and important tourism industry” as a great match to Lilium’s jet capabilities.

While the advent of flying cars will certainly revolutionize transport in the country, Tea added that eVTOLs will help cut the Philippines’ carbon footprint, amid its growing economy.

In addition to transforming the country as a site for eVTOLs, the partnering companies also pledge to build future services, including city pairs, joint definition of routes, and passenger demand for an on-demand eVTOL service.

Additionally, they will also play a role in identifying potential sites, requirements, and partners for landing infrastructure, including the sharing of vertiport specifications, identification of vertiport partners in the region, and access to Lilium’s existing network of charging hardware providers.

To take place at the Changi Exhibition Centre, the 2024 Singapore Airshow will run from February 20 until February 25, 2024.

In sponsorship of the Philippines’ aviation pavilion, which bears the theme “One PH Aviation: Together We Fly,” are Berthaphil Clark, the Asian Business Aviation Association, and The European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *