News Summary

Hyundai’s electric air taxi startup, Supernal, has paused its aircraft program following significant leadership changes, including the departures of CEO Jaiwon Shin and CTO David McBride. Supernal, initially spun out of the Hyundai Group in 2021, was working towards its first untethered test flight, with ambitions for a commercial launch by 2028. However, recent months have seen staff reductions and the closure of its Washington, D.C. headquarters. Interim COO David Rottblatt is managing operations during this transitional phase, while the Hyundai Group plans to appoint new leadership to advance Urban Air Mobility solutions. This development comes amidst broader industry challenges, with some electric air taxi startups like Joby expanding through partnerships, while others like Lillium have ceased operations.