Lilium’s Electric Aircraft Tech Finds New Life at Archer
▼ Summary
– Lilium, a German electric aircraft startup that ceased operations, had its assets sold through a competitive bid process after failed restructuring attempts.
– Archer Aviation won the bid for €18 million, acquiring all 300 of Lilium’s patent assets, outbidding competitors like Joby Aviation.
– Lilium, founded in 2015, raised over $1 billion and went public in 2021 but failed to deliver a product despite securing investors and customers.
– The patents cover key eVTOL technologies such as high-voltage systems, flight controls, and ducted fans, enhancing Archer’s intellectual property portfolio.
– Archer, originally focused on air taxis, may use the patents for broader applications like light-sport or regional electric flight, aligning with its recent defense initiatives.
The story of German electric aircraft developer Lilium has taken an unexpected turn, with its valuable technology finding a new home at rival firm Archer Aviation. Following Lilium’s insolvency, Archer secured the company’s entire patent portfolio through a competitive bidding process, paying approximately €18 million ($21 million) for the assets. This acquisition beat out offers from competitors including Joby Aviation and Ambitious Air Mobility Group, ensuring that Lilium’s innovations will continue to influence the future of electric flight.
Founded in 2015, Lilium was once a prominent player in the emerging electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) sector. The company focused on creating an aircraft capable of vertical takeoff and landing with speeds approaching 100 km/h. Over the years, it attracted substantial investment, raising more than $1 billion from backers such as Tencent. It also secured notable customer commitments, including a major order for 100 electric jets from Saudi Arabia. Despite these early successes, Lilium went public in 2021 through a reverse merger with a special purpose acquisition company, SPAC Qell, but ultimately exhausted its financial resources before being able to bring a product to market.
After Lilium ceased operations, there were several unsuccessful attempts to restructure the business. One notable effort came from Mobile Uplift Corporation, a consortium of European and North American investors, which tried to acquire the operational assets of Lilium’s subsidiaries. When these efforts failed, a bankruptcy administrator placed the company’s assets up for auction, leading to Archer’s successful bid for all 300 of Lilium’s patents.
An Archer spokesperson highlighted that the newly acquired intellectual property covers several foundational eVTOL technologies. These include high-voltage electrical systems, sophisticated flight control software, ducted fan propulsion units, and advanced airframe design concepts. The spokesperson described the Lilium patents as a “strong addition” to Archer’s own intellectual property library, which now exceeds 1,000 patent assets worldwide.
While Archer’s specific plans for the patents remain somewhat unclear, industry observers note potential applications that could expand the company’s strategic focus. Lilium’s electric ducted fan technology, for example, appears well-suited for light-sport aircraft and regional electric flight missions, areas that go beyond Archer’s original emphasis on urban air taxi services. Archer, which also became a public company in 2021 via a SPAC merger, initially concentrated on developing a metropolitan air mobility network. More recently, the company has expanded into defense, announcing a partnership with weapons manufacturer Anduril in December to co-develop a hybrid-powered VTOL aircraft for defense applications.
(Source: TechCrunch)