Vaeridion secures €124.5 million for electric Microliner
Vaeridion has raised €30 million euros in fresh equity and has also been selected for EU funding of €94.5 million. The Munich-based startup aims to use this to certify its electric microliner and prepare for series production in Oberpfaffenhofen.
The microliner is designed to transport nine passengers electrically over distances of up to 400 kilometers.
Image: Vaeridion
The new funds will primarily be allocated to the first certification-compliant prototypes of the Microliner, as well as integrated battery and powertrain testing. In parallel, the European Commission has selected the CAROLUS project for funding from the EU Innovation Fund. The €94.5 million grant is intended to support the establishment of a final assembly line at Oberpfaffenhofen Airport and the ramp-up of production.
The new Series A2 funding round of €30 million is led by SHIFT Invest and Invest-NL. Other participants include existing investors such as World Fund, Project A, and Vsquared Ventures, as well as deep-tech investor Alexander Rittweger. Combined with earlier public funding, Vaeridion states it has raised approximately €60 million to date.
However, the funding has not yet been definitively approved. Vaeridion was selected as one of twelve major projects from 358 applications. The funding agreement is expected to be signed in 2027.
Microliner aims to fly up to 400 km – electrically
The Microliner is designed as a fully electric regional aircraft for up to nine passengers. Under instrument flight rules, Vaeridion targets a range of 400 km; with four passengers under visual flight conditions, the range extends to up to 550 km. In addition to the passenger version, a cargo variant is also planned. The aircraft is being developed in accordance with the EASA CS-23 category requirements.
Technically, Vaeridion relies on a glider-inspired wing, an integrated modular battery system, and multiple electric motors that drive a common propeller. Since March 2026, the company has operated a production and testing facility in Oberpfaffenhofen, where the electric motor was recently commissioned for the first time. Next, battery packs and the powertrain system will be integrated into a ground test rig, known as the ‘Copper Bird’.
Vaeridion has also made progress in the certification process. According to the company, the Preliminary Design Review and a second Pre-Application Contract with EASA were completed in the past twelve months.
In 2025, the startup took over in 2025 a special building in Oberpfaffenhofen that was previously used by Lilium for battery development and manufacturing. With the planned CAROLUS funding, the site is to be further industrialised and expanded to include the final assembly of the Microliner.
Vaeridion also highlights purchase commitments for more than 130 aircraft, with a total value exceeding €730 million. The company names ASL Group as its first customer. In addition, companies such as KLM, BayernLB, and TrueNoord support Vaeridion through a Market Advisory Committee.
The Microliner is to be developed in Munich and Delft and built in Bavaria. Vaeridion plans to further expand its team in Europe and focus the coming years primarily on industrialisation and certification.