Supernal eVTOL Vehicle Cabin Concept Showcased at Farnborough International Airshow

Hyundai Motor Group’s Supernal Showcases eVTOL Vehicle Cabin Concept at Farnborough International Airshow

by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian M. Crosby

Today, Hyundai Motor Group subsidiary Supernal unveiled its first eVTOL vehicle cabin concept at Farnborough International Airshow, offering a first look at how its parent company is utilizing automotive capabilities for the development of the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) market.

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Supernal worked alongside the Group’s design studios to develop the cabin concept as the Company pursues certification for the commercial use of its eVTOL vehicle in the United States beginning in 2028 – following with the E.U. and U.K. soon after. Supernal is also working with external partners and the Group’s 50+ affiliates for the responsible co-creation of the comprehensive AAM value chain.

“In order for Advanced Air Mobility to become a wide-spread mode of transportation, every detail – from the passenger experience to regulations and infrastructure – needs to be addressed from the start and work in lockstep with one another,” said Hyundai Motor Group President and Supernal CEO Jaiwon Shin. “Leveraging Hyundai Motor Group’s mobility capabilities, Supernal is investing time and resources upfront to ensure the industry can scale to the masses in the coming decades and reach its exciting potential.”

The butterfly-inspired design of the five-seat cabin illustrates the company’s biomimicry-based approach, a central component of the design team’s philosophy, which also includes safety above all, human-centered design and environmental responsibility.

“Supernal is partnering with Hyundai Motor Group’s top automotive designers to develop our eVTOL vehicle for manufacturability and wide-spread public acceptance,” said Shin. “We are taking the time to create a safe, light-weight commercial eVTOL that provides our future passengers with the security and comfort they find in their own cars.”

The forged carbon fiber cabin features ergonomically contoured seats that provide passengers with a cocoon-like environment. The concept also features adjustable seat consoles resembling automobile center consoles, which provide a charging station and stowage compartment for personal items. The cabin’s lighting system adjusts over the course of flight to mimic a “light therapy” effect. The cabin concept makes use of sustainable materials, including advanced recyclable carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic, durable plant-based leather, recycled plastic fabric and responsibly sourced woods. The seat frame is composed of excess raw material from the airframe manufacturing process.

“The Supernal eVTOL vehicle draws on the competence of the Hyundai Motor Group and the skillset of experienced automotive designers, which allowed us to develop a new air mobility concept that is not only safe and rational but also highly emotional,” said Hyundai Motor Group CCO Luc Donckerwolke.

Read more about Supernal and eVTOLs:

• Urban-Air Port Funded by Hyundais Supernal: Integrating AAM into Transit Networks
• Hyundai Launches New Company to Advance Urban Air Mobility: Supernal
• The Air-One is the First Fully Functioning Vertiport for Advanced Air Operations
• AIR and FlyOnE Partner on Personal eVTOL Adoption in Australia

Ian attended Dominican University of California, where he received a BA in English in 2019. With a lifelong passion for writing and storytelling and a keen interest in technology, he is now contributing to DroneLife as a staff writer.