Tata Elxsi & Sarla Aviation Collaborate on ‘Shunya’ Air Taxi
By Business Desk
Tata Elxsi partners with Sarla Aviation to develop the ‘Shunya’ electric air taxi, focusing on advanced avionics and VTOL capabilities for flights over 300 km.
Tata Elxsi has inked an initial pact with Bengaluru startup Sarla Aviation to jointly develop the ‘Shunya’ air taxi platform.
This collaboration sees the design and technology services firm providing engineering expertise for the electric, seven-seater vehicle.
The Partnership’s Core Focus
Tata Elxsi will deliver engineering support for avionics, covering flight control systems, software integration, testing, verification, validation, and certification.
Sarla Aviation is tasked with leading the design, development, and type certification of the Shunya platform itself.
The partnership also anticipates extending into critical areas such as sensor fusion-based navigation software, industrial and structural design, and airworthiness test support.
Shunya’s Key Specifications
The Shunya air taxi is an electric, seven-seater vehicle, including the pilot.
It is engineered for flight operations exceeding 300 km.
Key capabilities include Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) combined with fixed-wing cruise efficiency.
This design enables runway-independent operations and enhanced propulsion efficiency.
Manoj Raghavan, CEO and Managing Director at Tata Elxsi, stated this initiative allows the company to apply its expertise across aerospace, mobility, and digital technologies to innovative aviation platforms.
Beyond the Shunya air taxi, the collaboration is set to bolster capabilities relevant to logistics, air ambulance services, and defense applications.