India's Largest Air Taxi Demonstrator, SYLLA SYL-X1, Begins Ground Testing in

December 22, 2025 at 09:43 AM•3 min read

Sarla Aviation's SYLLA SYL-X1 eVTOL began ground testing in [Bengaluru](https://www.bengaluruairport.com), moving India's electric air taxi program toward

Key Points

1Sarla Aviation began ground testing of its half-scale eVTOL demonstrator, SYLLA SYL-X1 (7.5-meter wingspan), at its Bengaluru facility on December 22, 2025.
2The SYLLA SYL-X1 is India's largest private eVTOL demonstrator and is built with certification intent, serving as a bridge to the full-scale 15-meter aircraft planned for a 2028 rollout.
3The company has raised $13 million in total funding, including a Series A round led by Accel and Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath.
4The [DGCA](https://www.dgca.gov.in) is developing the regulatory framework for eVTOLs, having issued guidance for vertiports and Type Certification, aligning India with global AAM standards.

Aerospace startup Sarla Aviation has started ground testing its electric air taxi program. This core validation phase is taking place at the company’s Bengaluru manufacturing facility. The move shifts the program beyond digital concepts. It now enters real aircraft-scale experimentation. This achievement places India among a small group of nations. These nations are developing next-generation vertical flight systems.

Core Validation Phase Begins

Sarla Aviation is testing its half-scale eVTOL demonstrator. This aircraft is named SYLLA SYL-X1. It features a 7.5-meter wingspan. The SYL-X1 is the largest and most advanced private eVTOL demonstrator in India. The company achieved this milestone in about nine months. This was done at a fraction of the capital of comparable global programs. The demonstrator is a functional sub-scale aircraft. It validates structural behavior and propulsion integration. It also tests the system-level safety architecture.

Unlike smaller prototypes, the SYL-X1 is designed for certification intent. It forms a direct bridge to Sarla Aviation’s planned 15-meter wingspan full-scale aircraft. The company aims to roll out its electric air taxis by 2028 in Bengaluru. This technology roadmap targets helicopter-class mission endurance. It aims to reduce cost and operational complexity through electric propulsion.

Funding and Leadership Authority

Sarla Aviation has secured significant financial backing. The company has raised a total of $13 million across its early funding rounds. This includes a Series A round in January 2025. This round was led by Accel and co-led by Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath. Other notable investors include Flipkart co-founder Binny Bansal. The startup was founded in October 2023 by Adrian Schmidt, Rakesh Gaonkar, and Shivam Chauhan. The team also brought on former civil aviation secretary Rajiv Bansal as an Advisor in August.

Co-founder and CTO Rakesh Gaonkar stated the focus is on building to last. The goal is to create an aviation giant designed and owned entirely in India. This new era of aviation technology must be certified, produced, and safely operated.

Regulatory and Industry Context

This development is crucial for India’s Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) sector. The DGCA is actively developing the necessary regulatory framework for eVTOLs. The regulator has issued guidance material for vertiports and Type Certification of eVTOL aircraft. These documents were released in late 2024. The DGCA is collaborating with international bodies. These include ICAO, EASA, and the FAA. The aim is to align domestic regulations with global safety standards.

Challenge: The company must navigate India's emerging aerospace supply chain.
Opportunity: The rollout of electric air taxis could significantly cut commute times in congested cities. The Indian government is fostering innovation in the aerospace industry. This provides a favorable environment for eVTOL companies to thrive.

This progress highlights the growing momentum in the global eVTOL race. For more commercial aviation news and updates on AAM, visit flying.flights.