We spoke with Daniel Wiegand, CEO and co-founder of the electric aircraft startup Lilium talked about the company's future plans, investor Frank Thelen and his company's vision.
Lilium Aviation is developing an electric aircraft. The day before yesterday, the company announced the completion of a Series A round: The London investment company Atomico Skype co-founder Niklas Zennström is investing €10 million in the startup. Frank Thelen's company had previously invested e42 to Munich.
How did you get in touch with Atomico?
We first came into contact through our seed investors, Frank Thelen and e42. They joined us about a year ago.
How has the collaboration with Frank Thelen and e42 been going so far?
Extremely good! We wouldn't be where we are if we hadn't found an investor who has so much experience, is so well connected and so hands-on This even goes so far that someone from e42 comes and helps us directly on-site if we lack experience in a particular topic.
You're based at the ESA-BIC in Oberpfaffenhofen. Can you stay there?
We're currently exploring ways to expand at this location. Fortunately, we have a supportive landlord who was able to provide us with a few hundred square meters in the same building. But even if we can't grow any further here, we'll definitely stay in Munich.
When do you plan to launch a production model on the market?
In any case, this will take a few more years.
Who is your target group?
Our mission is to make Lilium technology accessible to everyone. Our target audience is therefore Air Taxi and Mmobility-as-a-service.
So you don't want to sell the Lilium Jet primarily to private customers?
That could of course be possible, but we are not yet committed to it. The entire company orientation and product design are geared towards use as Mobility Service Of course, the jet will also be available for private purchase. But the company's focus and vision is to reach as many people as possible, not just a few private owners.
What is your rough selling price target?
We can't say yet. However, the sales price should be set at a level that allows a mobility service provider to offer its services very lucratively and profitably.
How do you envision its use in concrete terms? Will the Lilium Jet fly from facilities such as helipads within cities?
We want to use it both in urban areas and between cities. Today's batteries offer a range of around 300 km. This would be a good way to connect a region like Bavaria and essentially turn it into a metropolis: From Munich, you can reach most of Bavaria in half an hour.
Of course, you can't go and get bread rolls with the Lilium Jet, but it saves a lot of time if you have to go from the north of Munich to the south, for example.
There will be landing pads. Some will have charging stations, while others will serve only as boarding and disembarkation points.
Thank you for the interview and continued success!
