THE RISE OF THE FULLY ELECTRIC VTOL 'CITYAIRBUS NEXTGEN'
The Airbus CityAirbus NextGen eVTOL is the most complete electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft Airbus has built to date, offering an 80-km operational range and a 120 km/h cruise speed in a four-seat configuration designed specifically for urban air mobility. Unveiled as a full-scale prototype, the aircraft represents a decade of experience from earlier programmes including the original CityAirbus and the Vahana single-seater, now condensed into a production-ready architecture with serious noise targets and a 560 kWh battery system.
CityAirbus NextGen Specifications and Design
The CityAirbus NextGen has a wingspan of approximately 12 metres and a maximum take-off weight of two tonnes. Its distributed propulsion system uses eight electrically powered propellers mounted on fixed wings, paired with a V-shaped tail for stability and control. The 560 kWh battery pack is divided into four independent 140 kWh units, supporting DC fast charging to 80 percent in roughly 20 to 30 minutes. The target operating sound level is below 65 dB(A) during fly-over and below 70 dB(A) during landing, making it quieter than most existing helicopters and compatible with urban operation near residential areas.
How CityAirbus NextGen Compares to Earlier Airbus eVTOL Programmes
The original CityAirbus demonstrator used a multirotor configuration similar to a large drone, while Vahana focused on tiltwing technology for a single pilot. The NextGen moves to a more efficient fixed-wing architecture with a separate lift and cruise propulsion philosophy, which significantly reduces energy consumption in cruise compared to pure multirotor designs. Airbus began remotely piloted flight testing at its Donauworth facility in Germany in late 2024, following unveiling of the full-scale prototype. This makes it one of the most advanced eVTOL programmes from a legacy aerospace manufacturer currently under active flight test.
Urban Air Mobility and the Road to Commercial Service
Airbus envisions the CityAirbus NextGen as a cornerstone of urban air mobility (UAM), targeting routes of up to 80 km at cruise, ideal for city-to-airport or inter-city short hops. The programme involves collaboration with operators, infrastructure partners, and aviation regulators to establish the certification basis for the aircraft. A key design goal is community acceptance: the low noise profile and zero-emission electric propulsion address two of the main barriers to public support for air taxi services. The aircraft is designed to transition from crewed operations to potentially autonomous service once regulatory frameworks mature.
The CityAirbus NextGen is one of several credible pathways to personal electric flight now under development. Explore other aircraft and flying machines available at TheArsenale, including the XPENG X2 eVTOL flying car, the Zapata Airscooter personal eVTOL, and the Insky Linx personal aircraft for a range of approaches to urban and personal aviation. Read more at the official Airbus CityAirbus NextGen page.
Photo: Airbus
