Lilium (LILM) receives firm order from UrbanLink to put 20 eVTOL jets into service in Florida
Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) developer Lilium has announced a new partnership with advanced air mobility (AAM) operator UrbanLink that includes the purchase of at least 20 all-electric eVTOL jets. The aircraft will be operated around Florida as UrbanLink looks to become the first US airline fully committed to the nascent technology.
Lilium ($LILM) is a startup founded in Munich, Germany, in 2015 that has since expanded its footprint of development teams across Europe and the United States. Its current staff sits around 1,000 personnel, including 500 aerospace engineers, who continue to work toward bringing Lilium’s unique eVTOL Jet design to commercial operations in Regional Air Mobility (RAM).
Last fall, we saw Lilium achieve development certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), enabling the startup to continue developing, testing, and preparing its eVTOL jets en route toward certification and production before commercial operations.
Speaking of commercial operations, Lilium announced a new partnership with PhilJets in February to bring eVTOL jet rides to the Phillippines. Today, Lilium announced another partnership, this time with UrbanLink Air Mobility in the US, that includes a firm order with room for even more eVTOL jet sales in the future.
Lilium sells 20 eVTOL jets with opportunity for 20 more
Lilium shared details of its new partnership with UrbanLink today. The partnership includes a firm order for at least 20 eVTOL jets with an option for an additional 20 aircraft. The deal also includes scheduled pre-delivery payments from UrbanLink as the AAM operator looks to become one of the first US airlines to fully embrace aviation technology and integrate eVTOLs into commercial operations.
UrbanLink is led by Ed Wegel, a veteran in the aviation industry who previously served as founder and CEO of charter airline GlobalX alongside stints at Atlantic Coast Airlines and JetBlue. Wegel spoke:
While many airlines have discussed the potential of operating eVTOL aircraft, none have made a definitive commitment. UrbanLink will be the first airline in the U. to integrate eVTOL aircraft into its fleet. We are dedicated to revolutionizing the way people move to and from as well as within urban cores. After thorough evaluation of various manufacturers, we found the Lilium Jet to be the optimal choice for our needs, thanks to its superior cabin design, range, capacity, and cost-effectiveness.
To begin, UrbanLink intends to put the initial 20 eVTOL jets from Lilium into operation around South Florida, offering emissions-free flight routes between Miami, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, and Marco Island.
Lilium began producing its first eVTOL jets in late 2023 and is targeting its first piloted flight tests ahead of airworthiness certification by the end of the year. Lilium CCO Sebastien Borel spoke about the company’s progress and its new collaboration with a regional airline like UrbanLink:
We are proud that UrbanLink has selected the Lilium Jet for its network and operations. This is a huge milestone, not only for Lilium, but for the commercialization of eVTOLs in the US We believe that this purchase of eVTOL aircraft is the first by a commercial operator that isn’t invested in the manufacturer that it is purchasing from. This is a sign that the market for eVTOL aircraft has matured and there is growing demand for aircraft that can provide connections between, rather than just within, cities. I know that Ed has the vision and operational expertise to make regional air mobility a success
UrbanLink intends to begin commercial flight services with the Lilium eVTOL jets by late 2026.
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Environment
Podcast: new Tesla Model S/X, Robotaxi is sort of coming, Xiaomi breaks EV Nurburgring record, more
In the Electrek Podcast, we discuss the most popular news in the world of sustainable transport and energy. In this week’s episode, we discuss the new Tesla Model S and Model XX, Robotaxi is sort of coming, Xiaomi breaking the EV record at Nurburgring, and more.
The show is live every Friday at 4 p.m. ET on Electrek’s YouTube channel.
As a reminder, we’ll have an accompanying post, like this one, on the site with an embedded link to the live stream. Head to the YouTube channel to get your questions and comments in.
After the show ends at around 5 p.m. ET, the video will be archived on YouTube and the audio on all your favorite podcast apps:
We now have a Patreon if you want to help us avoid more ads and invest more in our content. We have some awesome gifts for our Patreons and more coming.
Here are a few of the articles that we will discuss during the podcast:
Here’s the live stream for today’s episode starting at 4:00 p.m. ET (or the video after 5 p.m. ET:
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Environment
Chevy closes in on Tesla with the Equinox and Blazer EVs ‘right in the heart of the market’
Chevy is narrowing the gap with Tesla in the US, thanks to its new Equinox and Blazer EVs. After outselling Ford, Chevy is now the fastest-growing EV brand in the US.
Chevy EV registrations triple in April as Tesla slips
GM is outpacing rivals in the US with a full lineup of 13 all-electric vehicles. Its biggest star so far has been Chevy, with new EVs like Equinox and Blazer seeing strong demand.
In the first quarter, Chevy became the fastest-growing domestic EV brand, outpacing Ford. According to the latest registration data from S&P Global Mobility (via Automotive News), Chevy is not slowing down. It’s actually closing in on Tesla.
Although new EV registrations fell for the first time in over a year in April, Chevy more than tripled its share. Tesla remained the top-selling EV brand with 39,913 registrations, 16% fewer than in April 2024.
Chevy registered 9,160 EVs in April, more than triple (+215%) that of last year. Its share of the EV market rose to 9.4%, up from just 2.8% last April.
The Chevy Equinox EV was the third most popular model, behind Tesla’s Model Y and Model 3, with 5,424 registrations. Tesla Model Y registrations fell 42% to 18,978, while Cybertruck registrations slipped 23% to 1,680.
To be fair, Tesla already said earlier this year that the new Model Y changeover would impact production in the first quarter.
Chevy’s Blazer EV ranked sixth with 2,662 registrations in April. S&P Global Mobility analyst, Tom Libby, explained that “They have the Equinox and the Blazer right in the heart of the market and they’re really benefiting from that.”
| US EV Registrations April 2025 | % Change from April 2024 | |
| Tesla | 39,913 | -16% |
| Chevy | 9,160 | 215% |
| Ford | 5,534 | -33% |
| BMW | 4,812 | 8.7% |
| Hyundai | 4,796 | -25% |
| Cadillac | 3,829 | 104% |
| Nissan | 3,316 | 52% |
| Rivian | 3,109 | -30% |
| Mercedes-Benz | 2,392 | -19% |
| Acura | 2,315 | – |
The Chevy Equinox EV, or “America’s most affordable 315+ mile range EV,” starts at just $34,995. No wonder it’s selling like hotcakes.
Through May, Chevrolet has sold over 37,000 electric vehicles in the US, outpacing Ford, which has sold 34,000. We will learn more when GM reports second quarter sales on July 1.
With leases starting at just $289 per month, the 2025 Chevy Equinox EV is a pretty good deal right now. Chevy is also offering 0% APR for 60 months on all 2025 EV models. Ready to try one out for yourself? You can use our links below to find Chevy EV models in your area.
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