Alauda Aeronautics

Australia-based Alauda is an innovative aerospace company focused on revolutionizing the future of mobility through eVTOL flying vehicles. Its flagship vehicle, the AirSpeeder, is an electric flying vehicle designed for racing. As of May 2023, the company was set to establish what it claims to be the world’s first electric flying racing car factory in South Australia. Alauda has confirmed that two locations in the world have been approved for its Airspeeder air racing events: the Mojave Desert in California, US and a desert near Coober Pedy in South Australia.

Weighing in at a maximum takeoff weight of 250 kg (551 lbs), the Airspeeder Mk4 is a lightweight and agile machine. The vehicle has a racing speed of 130 km/h (81 mph) and a maximum speed of 250 km/h (155 mph). In February 2023 , the company unveiled the first crewed version of its flying racing car, which the company claims is the world’s fastest eVTOL with a top speed of 360 kmph (~225mph). The new version has a powerful 1,000 kW (1,340 horsepower) turbogenerator that serves as the primary power source for the aircraft. One of the key advancements of this turbogenerator is its compatibility with green hydrogen as a fuel source, ensuring a clean and sustainable energy solution. By using green hydrogen, the Airspeeder Mk4 offers a range of over 300 km (188 miles), making it suitable for longer distances and extended flight times. The first crewed race for the Mk4 was slated for 2024.

Key customers and partnerships

Alauda has established strategic partnerships with a range of industry-leading companies to advance its vision of electric flying car racing. The company has entered a strategic partnership with leading cyber protection company Acronis to provide data security for the LiDAR and machine vision technology. Intel partnered with Airspeeder in February 2023 as its official intelligence partner to provide end-to-end systems support and insights. The company collaborated with DHL for logistics support for races and events, enabling the efficient movement of equipment, components, and personnel to various race locations around the world.

Funding and financials

In April 2020 , the company raised an undisclosed amount from investors including Saltwater Capital, Jelix, Equals, and DHL. In March 2022 , the company was awarded AUD 20 million (~USD 13 million) in funding from the Central Government of Australia to build a hyper factory for Airspeeder.