On December 22, 2025, Sarla Aviation from Bengaluru completed ground tests of its half-scale electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, SYL-X1. This test occurred at the company’s Bengaluru test facility. The SYL-X1 has a wingspan of 7.5 meters, making it the largest and most advanced private eVTOL demonstrator in India today. Sarla Aviation said the aircraft was developed in about nine months and at a much lower cost than similar global programs. The company called this a new level of engineering scale, speed, and system readiness for a private aerospace firm in India. With ground tests done, the company’s air taxi program now moves into core validation, moving from concepts and experiments to real aircraft testing. The SYL-X1 is not just a model; it is built to test structure, propulsion, and safety systems at real aircraft scale. Unlike small prototypes, it is designed with certification in mind and leads toward Sarla Aviation’s planned full-scale 15-meter wingspan aircraft. Rakesh Gaonkar, Co-Founder and Chief Technical Officer of Sarla Aviation said, "This milestone reflects what’s possible when globally experienced Indian engineering teams build with rigor, patience, and world-class standards. Our focus has never been on being first, but on building to last — on creating an aviation giant." Alongside this, Sarla Aviation delivered a full-scale static aircraft for the Bharat Mobility national showcase and raised $13 million to support long-term plans. Their main project is a six-seater electric flying taxi aimed at cutting travel time in busy cities such as Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi, and Pune. Previously in 2024, Sarla Aviation partnered with Bangalore International Airport Limited to explore sustainable air travel using eVTOL aircraft. This partnership supports the launch of electric flying taxis to improve urban mobility.