Although the ambitious German electric aircraft startup Lilium officially ceased operations roughly a year ago, the company’s insolvency filing did not entirely extinguish its influence within the aviation sector. What initially appeared to be the definitive end of the enterprise instead unfolded into a complex series of restructuring attempts and acquisition negotiations that prolonged the life of its technological legacy.
In the months that followed its financial collapse, several initiatives emerged in an effort to salvage what remained of Lilium’s operations. Among these undertakings was a particularly determined proposal by Mobile Uplift Corporation—a newly established entity backed by investors spanning Europe and North America—whose objective was to acquire the key operational assets of Lilium’s two subsidiaries. Despite this last-ditch attempt to sustain or revive the company, the restructuring efforts ultimately failed. Consequently, a court-appointed bankruptcy administrator intervened to manage the process, placing the company’s remaining assets into a competitive auction to ensure transparency and obtain the best possible return for creditors.
From that bidding contest, a new outcome has materialized: components of Lilium’s advanced technological portfolio have found a future home under the stewardship of Archer Aviation. This California-based electric aviation company outperformed other notable bidders, including Ambitious Air Mobility Group and the U.S.-headquartered Joby Aviation, securing the winning offer of €18 million (equivalent to approximately $21 million) in exchange for Lilium’s collection of 300 patent assets. Joby later confirmed its participation, underscoring the level of interest and competition surrounding Lilium’s innovative intellectual property.
Lilium had once been regarded as one of Europe’s most promising pioneers in electric aviation. Founded in 2015, it focused on the development of a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft designed to achieve speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour—a feat intended to revolutionize short-distance air travel. Over several funding rounds, the company attracted more than $1 billion in capital from global investors before making its stock market debut in 2021 through a reverse merger with the special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC) Qell, allowing it to list on the Nasdaq Exchange. Lilium’s investor list boasted prestigious names, including the Chinese technology conglomerate Tencent, and it managed to secure impressive orders, such as a commitment from Saudi Arabia to purchase one hundred fully electric jets. Yet, despite these signs of promise and industry attention, the company’s heavy research and development expenditures depleted its financial reserves long before it could deliver a market-ready aircraft.
According to a spokesperson from Archer Aviation, the portfolio of patents acquired from Lilium encompasses a broad range of critical eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) technologies. These include high-voltage electrical systems capable of supporting intensive power demands, sophisticated flight control software essential for precision maneuvering, ducted fan propulsion mechanisms that improve efficiency and noise reduction, and advanced aerodynamic designs fundamental to next-generation lightweight aircraft. The company described these new additions as a strategically significant enhancement to its existing intellectual property portfolio—which, with the Lilium acquisition, now exceeds 1,000 global patent assets—highlighting Archer’s growing dominance within the eVTOL innovation landscape.
Although Archer has not yet publicly disclosed exact details regarding how it intends to integrate or deploy Lilium’s patents, available information offers subtle indications. Lilium’s distinctive expertise in electric ducted fan technology is particularly well suited for applications such as light-sport aircraft or regional commuter planes—segments that extend beyond Archer’s initial focus on short-range urban air taxis. This could suggest that the company envisions leveraging Lilium’s research to explore new use cases for sustainable aviation beyond its original mission.
Archer itself, which also joined the public markets in 2021 through a merger with a special purpose acquisition company, initially concentrated on building an air taxi network that could transform urban mobility. More recently, the company expanded its ambitions by establishing a defense-oriented program in December, which featured an exclusive partnership with the advanced defense technology developer Anduril. Together, the two firms aim to design and produce a hybrid gas-and-electric-powered VTOL aircraft capable of serving critical military and strategic operations—a move that illustrates Archer’s diversification and long-term vision for the broader aeronautical landscape.
Thus, even though Lilium’s journey as an independent enterprise has come to an end, its technological creations and intellectual achievements are poised to live on, integrated into Archer’s expanding ecosystem. In this way, the pioneering spirit of one company finds new expression in the forward momentum of another, ensuring that the dream of efficient, sustainable, electric-powered flight continues to ascend rather than fade into history.
Sourse: https://techcrunch.com/2025/10/16/defunct-electric-aircraft-startup-liliums-tech-lives-on-over-at-archer/
