UK start-up Urban-Air Port Ltd (UAP) has secured investment from Supernal, previously the Urban Air Mobility Division of Hyundai Motor Group. The funding will help support UAP’s plans to develop 200 vertiport sites across the world in the next five years.
This is the first time a major eVTOL company has invested in a ground infrastructure developer to enable advanced air mobility.
Vertiports are ultra-compact, rapidly deployable, multi-functional operations hubs for manned and unmanned vehicles.
UAP’s vertiport sites will provide infrastructure to help enable mass adoption of eVTOL aircraft – such as cargo drones and air taxis.
Supernal’s investment will help support the development of UAP’s new vertiport models including the CityBox delivery drone hub, and expansion into new markets.
The world’s first fully operational hub for eVTOLs, Air-One, will open for public visitation in the UK city of Coventry in April, 2022.
Ricky Sandhu, Founder and Executive Chairman of Urban-Air Port, says: “Cars need roads. Trains need rails. Planes need airports. eVTOLs need Urban-Air Ports. Despite the unparalleled potential of eVTOL aircraft to revolutionise mobility, the importance of the ground infrastructure that enables them is too often overlooked. With Supernal’s investment and expertise and connection to Hyundai Motor Group, we can supercharge the rollout of sustainable, intermodal and scalable ground infrastructure that will unleash the future of advanced air mobility globally.”
Jaiwon Shin, Chief Executive Officer of Supernal and President, Hyundai Motor Group, adds: “At Supernal, we are on a mission to transform how people and society move, connect, and live; therefore, it is essential we not only develop electric air vehicles, but also help shape the broader advanced air mobility market from the ground up. We are pleased to continue working with Urban-Air Port and support its efforts to create ground infrastructure that works seamlessly with eVTOLs and integrates the advanced air mobility industry with existing modes of transportation.”
US-based Supernal is both convening public and private stakeholders to responsibly shape the AAM industry, and developing its own eVTOL and plans to launch its first commercial flight in 2028.
