- Andhra Pradesh has signed an MoU with Sarala Aviation to build India's first giga-scale electric air-taxi hub, creating a leading eVTOL manufacturing ecosystem.
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check offers Andhra Pradesh has signed an MoU with Bengaluru-based Sarala Aviation to set up India's first giga-scale electric air-taxi manufacturing hub. The agreement was announced at the CII Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam. This is one of the state's biggest steps into next generation aviation and urban air mobility.
The upcoming facility will be built on a 500-acre site in Anantapur district. Sarla Aviation will invest 1,300 crore in the first phase. This MoU was signed by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu handed over in the presence of Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu and Minister of State BC Janardhana Reddy.
The largest “Sky Factory”
Sarala Aviation calls the project the world's largest “sky factory”. It aims to create a space where India can design, manufacture, test, certify and operate next generation aircraft on a single campus.
Complete Ecosystem for eVTOL Manufacturing
The complex will have a complete ecosystem for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Planned features include:
- composite manufacturing units
- Powertrain and avionics lines
- India's largest wind tunnel
- Simulation laboratories and pilot-training centers
- MRO facilities
- Two kilometer runway and VTOL test pad
Once the plant is fully operational, it will be able to produce 1,000 eVTOL aircraft every year.
Also read: Watch: Air taxi company claims speed of 250 kmph during test flight
Focus on skills and operational efficiency
The project is in line with the national Develop India 2047 vision and the Swarna Andhra 2047 plan of Andhra Pradesh. The state expects the hub to create high-skilled jobs and support the development of new aerospace supply chains.
Sarala Aviation says the site will not only focus on manufacturing but will also help build India's operational and training capabilities for future air-taxi services.
Strategic steps for India's aviation sector
Andhra Pradesh is the first state in India to commit to a giga-scale air-mobility manufacturing hub. This project is expected to:
- Strengthening domestic aerospace production
- Reduce dependence on imported components
- Support innovation in electric and hybrid aviation
- Encourage the development of vertiports and air-mobility corridors
Experts say eVTOL certification is still evolving worldwide, but India's integrated approach could help it move faster as the standards mature.
First publication date: 19 November 2025, 15:45 PM IST