The ePlane Company leverages Dassault Systèmes’ cloud-based 3DEXPERIENCE platform to accelerate the design, development, and certification of India’s first compact electric air taxi.
NFAPost, Bengaluru: In a significant leap for India’s urban air mobility ambitions, The ePlane Company, a homegrown aviation startup pioneering sustainable air transport solutions, has joined forces with Dassault Systèmes to accelerate the development and certification of its compact electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
The collaboration harnesses the power of Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform, a comprehensive digital engineering and simulation ecosystem that enables ePlane’s engineers to design, test, and validate complex aircraft systems faster and more efficiently—all in a cloud-based environment.
Accelerating Innovation through Digital Engineering
Founded in 2019 by Dr. Satya Chakravarthy, ePlane’s mission is to redefine short-distance urban travel with zero-emission electric aircraft. The company’s flagship product, the e200x, is touted as the world’s most compact eVTOL with an 8×10 meter footprint, a range of 115 km, and the capability to carry a pilot plus 200 kg payload. Designed for city commutes and medical air-lift applications, the e200x represents a new paradigm in accessible and sustainable aerial mobility.
By adopting the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, ePlane has significantly streamlined its aircraft development process. The platform enables model-based systems engineering, end-to-end digital simulation, and collaborative design iteration, reducing engineering cycle times and de-risking key certification milestones.
“With Dassault Systèmes’ robust cloud and simulation technologies, our engineering team can validate designs faster and more efficiently, despite the inherent complexity of eVTOL geometries,” said Dr. Satya Chakravarthy, Founder & CTO, The ePlane Company. “Digital continuity across all phases of aircraft development has helped us reduce engineering cycle times and achieve smoother progress toward certification.”
Milestones in Indian Aerospace Innovation
In a landmark achievement, The ePlane Company has become the first private entity in India to receive Design Organization Approval (DOA) from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for 2-19 seater aircraft—a crucial step that positions it as a frontrunner in the country’s emerging eVTOL ecosystem.
The DGCA has also accepted ePlane’s Type Certification application for the e200x as of December 2024, marking the start of a rigorous testing and validation phase. The company expects its air-ambulance and urban air taxi variants to be type-certified and operational between 2027 and 2028.
Dassault Systèmes: Enabling the Future of Urban Air Mobility
Dassault Systèmes, globally recognized for its digital engineering and simulation platforms, views this partnership as a milestone in advancing India’s aerospace innovation ecosystem. Through its 3DEXPERIENCE on the cloud, Dassault Systèmes empowers startups like ePlane to adopt aerospace-grade design practices without the need for heavy on-premise infrastructure, ensuring scalability, security, and agility.
“ePlane’s work in urban air mobility demonstrates the transformative potential of digitalization in aerospace,” said Deepak NG, Managing Director, Dassault Systèmes India. “By leveraging the 3DEXPERIENCE platform on the cloud, ePlane is accelerating innovation and achieving efficient, safe, and certifiable development of their e200 air taxi. We are proud to be the technology partner enabling their vision for zero-emission, accessible, and sustainable urban transportation in India and beyond.”
A Vision for Cleaner Skies
As cities across the world grapple with congestion, emissions, and limited mobility infrastructure, electric air taxis like the ePlane e200x promise a game-changing alternative. Compact enough to take off and land from rooftops, these aircraft could redefine urban commutes, emergency response, and regional connectivity.
By combining cutting-edge simulation with regulatory readiness, ePlane and Dassault Systèmes are together building a blueprint for how digital transformation can drive the next era of aviation—where clean, efficient, and accessible flight becomes part of everyday life.
