HYUNDAI'S ELECTRIC AIR TAXI WILL TAKEOFF IN 2028
The Hyundai Supernal S-A2 electric air taxi is the most detailed look yet at what urban air mobility will feel like in practice. Revealed at CES 2024 by Supernal, Hyundai Motor Group's advanced air mobility subsidiary, the S-A2 is a five-seat eVTOL designed to carry four passengers plus a pilot on 25 to 40-mile city trips, with commercial service targeted for 2028 in cities including Los Angeles and Miami.
Eight tilting rotors, a V-tail, and 120 mph cruise speed
The S-A2 uses a distributed electric propulsion architecture with eight all-tilting rotors arranged along a nearly 50-foot wing. Four rotors on the wing's trailing edge tilt down for vertical lift during takeoff and landing; four on the leading edge tilt up for efficient horizontal cruise. This configuration doubles the tilting rotor count from the earlier S-A1 concept and allows the aircraft to transition smoothly between hover and forward flight without the mechanical complexity of a traditional helicopter.
Cruising speed is 120 mph at approximately 1,500 feet of altitude. Noise levels are one of Supernal's headline technical achievements: the S-A2 is engineered to operate at 65 dB during vertical takeoff and landing phases, dropping to 45 dB in cruise. That is roughly equivalent to a dishwasher running in the next room, far below the rotor noise of a conventional helicopter, and it addresses one of the most consistent objections to urban air mobility from city planning authorities.
Safety, redundancy, and FAA certification
Supernal has designed the S-A2 to meet global commercial aviation safety standards rather than the lighter certifications currently available to experimental aircraft. The airframe incorporates redundant components across critical systems including powertrain, flight controls, and avionics. FAA type certification is planned to begin in 2026, with full-scale flight testing running in parallel. This certification path is ambitious and reflects Hyundai's intent to operate as a certified commercial carrier rather than a niche aviation experiment.
Modular manufacturing at HMGICS Singapore
Hyundai has already committed its HMGICS plant in Singapore to the production of these eVTOLs, using modular, cell-based manufacturing techniques adapted from automotive production. The S-A2's modular architecture also has a longer-term design logic: as battery technology improves over the next decade, the aircraft can be updated in place rather than replaced, extending the useful life of each unit and allowing the platform to benefit from incremental energy density gains without a full redesign.
Urban air mobility: from concept to 2028 commercial service
The original Hyundai S-A1 concept appeared at CES 2020 and represented a broad vision for air mobility. The S-A2 is the production-intent follow-through: a specific aircraft with defined passenger capacity, confirmed noise targets, a certifiable safety architecture, and a manufacturing plan. Supernal's roadmap connects the S-A2 directly to scheduled commercial operations, making this one of the more credible timelines in a sector crowded with speculation.
Photo: Hyundai
Explore the full range of flying cars and eVTOL aircraft on TheArsenale, including the XPENG X2 eVTOL Flying Car and the Zapata Airscooter Personal eVTOL. For the broader picture of personal air mobility, the Airplanes and Drones collection covers everything from private aircraft to autonomous flying machines.
