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Lilium gearing up production for its eVTOL Jet electric propulsion units

March 07, 2024

Lilium N.V., an eVTOL maker, is starting to install its manufacturing equipment for serial production of the Lilium Jet’s propulsion units.

The company expects prototype Lilium Jet propulsion units to start coming off the new line in Q2 2024, for testing and the flight test campaign.

For the design and construction of the Lilium Jet’s propulsion assembly line, Lilium has partnered with Schnaithmann Maschinenbau GmbH, a German automation and robotics company. Schnaithmann, based near Stuttgart, designs and supplies automated, scalable industrial solutions, and has long-standing partnerships in high-volume industries, particularly automotive.

The collaboration between Lilium and Schnaithmann began several years ago with the initial development of production plans for the Lilium Jet. Lilium’s aerostructures assembly line is already utilizing equipment provided by Schnaithmann for handling the Lilium Jet’s wings and canards. The newly announced propulsion assembly line is located in the same building as Lilium’s aerostructures assembly line.

The electric jet propulsion unit is a core company technology and key to providing the required performance, unit economics, and comfort for regional air mobility. Major subassemblies of the propulsion unit are delivered to Lilium by a team of qualified suppliers including Honeywell in alliance with Denso (e-motor), Aeronamic (fan), and SKF (electric motor bearings).

In 2023, following successful testing and characterization of engine systems, including the fan, stator, and e-motor, Lilium assembled the first complete Lilium Jet electric engine on a pre-series line. The Lilium Jet e-motor has been designed to deliver industry-leading power density of over 100kW from a system weighing just over 4kg.