Volant Aerotech Secures Multi-Million Dollar Series B to Accelerate eVTOL Co...

TMTPOST -- Volant Aerotech, a leading domestic developer of high-grade electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL), has closed a Series B financing round worth several tens of millions of U.S. dollars.

The round was led by Meridian Capital, with new investors including SAIC Capital participating. Existing shareholders, such as Legend Capital, CDH Baifu, and Zigong Chuangfa, also increased their stakes. The funding underscores continued market confidence in Volant’s technological leadership and commercial potential in the high-level commercial passenger eVTOL sector.

It will accelerate the company’s product development, airworthiness certification, and commercialization process. Notably, Volant has completed six financing rounds in 2024 alone, defying market headwinds.

The low-altitude economy represents a new frontier of industrial competition among global powers. For China, advancing this sector carries strategic significance. It positions the country to capture the technological high ground and set international standards in electrified aviation, elevating the domestic aviation industry to a pillar industry status. It also enhances the management, emergency response, and safety systems of national airspace while redefining integrated air-ground transportation networks.

Reflecting this priority, China’s government has provided strong policy support. The 2025 government work report emphasized the cultivation of emerging industries, large-scale application demonstrations of new technologies, and the healthy development of sectors such as commercial aerospace and the low-altitude economy. This marks the second consecutive year that the low-altitude economy has been highlighted in the government’s policy agenda.

Founded in June 2021, Volant Aerotech specializes in the research, development, and manufacturing of high-grade eVTOL aircraft. Its leadership team consists of seasoned civil aviation experts. Founder and CEO Dong Ming brings over 20 years of experience across AVIC, General Electric, Rockwell Collins, and AVIAGE Systems, contributing to projects including the ARJ21, C919, and CR929. CTO Zhang Baozhu has nearly 30 years of experience in aircraft product development, having worked on multiple Part 25 transport and Part 23 general aviation projects, including the McDonnell Douglas MD90, Airbus A320, Bombardier C Series, Diamond DA42, and Diamond DA40.

Volant’s first compound wing product, the VE25-100 “Tianxing” AC101, was designed for commercial passenger transport and all low-altitude economy scenarios. The aircraft features a spacious cabin, flexible interior, strong payload capacity, and safety standards comparable to commercial airliners.

It delivers all-weather operability and high dispatch reliability, with per-seat operating costs estimated at only 1/8 to 1/10 of comparable helicopters. The VE25-100 has already secured confirmed orders from domestic airlines and leasing companies including China Southern General Aviation, Asia Express Aviation, and ABC Financial Leasing.

Since the successful maiden unprotected flight of the first AC101 prototype on September 1, Volant has focused on rotor flight test missions and pilot-in-command operations, with manned flight tests planned in the near future.

Regarding the Series B round, Ji Wei, Founding Managing Partner of Meridian Capital, commented: “A mature R&D and airworthiness system, along with a rigorous commitment to safety, are the core criteria for assessing leading eVTOL companies. Volant is at the forefront globally in both.

While adhering to aviation’s highest safety standards, the company has achieved rapid R&D iteration, systematic supply chain management, and swift commercialization. We expect Volant to become one of the first domestic companies to obtain high-safety-level airworthiness certification and to pioneer eVTOL commercialization in China. With global market players like Joby valued over $100 billion, Volant is well-positioned to make a significant contribution to China’s participation in the low-altitude economy.”