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From beacon of hope to cautionary tale: Lilium, the former flagship of German aviation innovation, is history. After selling its patents to US competitor Archer Aviation for around 18 million euros, one thing is clear: the dream of the electric air taxi “Made in Bavaria” has burst. How could the billion-euro project crash so dramatically? First published on: October 30, 2025

It’s now official: after Munich startup Lilium announced it would file for insolvency for its two main subsidiaries, the corresponding applications have been submitted to the Weilheim district court. Steps into insolvency were preceded by failed efforts to secure government aid.

When air taxi company Lilium announced in May that it would receive 89 million euros (100 million dollars) from Chinese tech conglomerate Tencent, the startup stated that an additional 133 million euros (150 million dollars) would follow. Lilium has now even managed to exceed this target.

The Munich-based air taxi developer Lilium has announced another capital increase of up to 225 million euros (250 million dollars). A commitment of 90 million euros (100 million dollars) comes from Chinese tech company Tencent.

The Munich air taxi company Lilium has successfully completed a capital increase of 113.7 million euros (119 million dollars). The funds come from existing shareholders, new investors, and strategic partners.

Lilium has signed a letter of intent with Saudia, Saudi Arabia’s national airline, to purchase 100 Lilium jets. The airline intends to use them to build a comprehensive network of air taxi services throughout Saudi Arabia.

The social network LinkedIn has published its annual ranking of most popular startups as employers. With Personio, Lilium and Finn, three Munich startups occupy the top positions in the ranking.