Aerofugia, Chinese eVTOL Startup, Secures Record $136M Funding in 2026
Aerofugia, a Chengdu-based electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft manufacturer, has successfully closed a new funding round worth nearly 1 billion yuan (approximately $136 million). This marks the largest financing in China’s low-altitude transport sector for the year 2026.
The capital infusion, representing Aerofugia’s second major funding round within a span of three months, is set to fuel the company’s transition from prototype to commercial product. The funds will be primarily allocated towards securing airworthiness certification for its AE200 series aircraft and scaling production at the company’s global headquarters in Chengdu. The round was spearheaded by CSCI, emphasizing that the investment aligns with national goals for advanced manufacturing.
A subsidiary of the automotive giant Geely Technology Group, Aerofugia has already achieved significant milestones. These include rolling out its first aircraft and completing verification flights. The company has secured orders exceeding 1,000 units for its AE200-100, a six-seat piloted eVTOL aircraft. This aircraft, designed for urban air mobility, low-altitude tourism, and emergency rescue operations, boasts a range of 200 kilometers.
The AE200 features an eight-rotor, four-tilted-wing design with a carbon fiber composite fuselage. It has successfully completed all-tilt transition flight testing, becoming the first manned eVTOL in China to accomplish this milestone. The company is adopting a phased approach to commercialization, commencing with traditional helicopter operations before transitioning to large-scale eVTOL deployment in urban environments.
Source: https://techstartups.com/2026/02/02/top-startup-and-tech-funding-news-february-2-2025/