Adrian Schmidt, co-founder and CEO of Sarla Aviation, stated, "In India, a shorter range is fine, as long as you can offer it at an attractive price point. And that's what we're trying to achieve with this higher payload." This encapsulates the startup's focus on balancing payload capacity and operational cost-effectiveness in a country with unique transportation challenges.
Sarla Aviation's new funding round of $10 million, led by Accel and supported by angel investors like Flipkart co-founder Binny Bansal, signifies strong investor confidence in their approach. With a previous seed round of $1.7 million, the startup is poised for substantial growth.
The company's ambitious plan includes building an R&D center in Bengaluru and significantly increasing its team size. By targeting a vehicle with a capacity for six passengers plus a pilot, Sarla aims to redefine urban air mobility, adapting to local needs.
With a maximum payload of 680 kilograms (1,500 pounds) and a reduced range of 160 kilometers (99 miles), Sarla Aviation is paving a unique path in the air taxi industry, focusing on capacity over range, which differs from conventional flying taxi models.
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