Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 01:31pm on 20 Feb 2026,Friday Tech Today
India's first AI-powered air taxi, an electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (e-VTOL) aircraft, was showcased at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam. Developed by The E Plane Company in collaboration with IIT Madras, the aircraft requires no runway, runs entirely on battery, and can cover 36 km in just eight minutes at an estimated fare of Rs 1,700. It supports multi-stop capability on a single charge and operates below 120 decibels. The airframe and body are fully manufactured in India, with DGCA Design Organisation Approval already secured. Air ambulance services are planned for Bengaluru, Chennai, Pune, Mumbai and Ahmedabad by September–October 2027, ahead of commercial air taxi operations. (PC: NDTV)
