Crewed Electric Aircraft E20 eVTOL Completes First Flight Test | BlueRun Ventures Headlines

BlueRun Ventures was the sole seed-round investor in TCab Tech and doubled down in the Pre-A round. We look forward to the E20 eVTOL unlocking new possibilities for future mobility.

"Ready for takeoff!" Recently, following this command, a tiltrotor crewed electric aircraft ascended vertically at Hengdian General Airport. After a static transition and hover, it flew forward — this was the first flight test of TCab Tech's self-developed E20 eVTOL. The successful maiden flight marked the full integration of the E20's design, R&D, manufacturing, and flight operations. From final assembly to completing its first round of flight tests, the TCab team accomplished this in just four months — a feat driven by the R&D team's self-motivated work ethic, iterative "TCab speed," and years of accumulated technical expertise.

Through more than four months of framework aircraft flight trials, the R&D team not only validated the reliability of the power and energy systems but also amassed substantial test data to enhance and ensure high-fidelity aircraft modeling. The flight control team employed a "simulated flight test — actual aircraft flight test — aircraft model and control law optimization — simulated flight test — actual aircraft flight test" closed-loop process to ensure effective flight testing. Before the E20 eVTOL flight trials, the flight control team had completed simulation verification for all test subjects, enabling virtually all actual flight test subjects to pass on the first attempt.

TCab Tech remains focused on commercializing crewed eVTOLs, dedicated to building safe and convenient aerial mobility vehicles. The company has selected world-class partners to ensure the E20 eVTOL's high safety and reliability, with the ultimate goal of obtaining standard airworthiness certification.

The E20 eVTOL is equipped with six ENGINeUS™ intelligent electric motors from Safran Electrical & Power, providing continuous and reliable propulsion, along with Saifei Company's power cables and avionics wiring harnesses, forming the network for energy transmission and signal communication between components. "The successful maiden flight of the TCab E20 eVTOL represents an important milestone for urban air mobility in China. We are delighted to be part of it, which will further strengthen Safran Group's market position in China's electric vertical take-off and landing sector," said Thierry Sieg, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Safran Electrical & Power. As an international high-technology group, Safran has established a strong market position in China's civil aviation sector, with business covering all market segments and active participation in major Chinese aircraft, helicopter, and engine programs.

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The E20 eVTOL is expected to become China's first tiltrotor crewed electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft to obtain standard airworthiness certification, and has consistently drawn significant industry attention. TCab Tech founder and CEO Yongwei Huang stated that completing the first round of flight tests is merely a new development and starting point; the technical team will now commence regular flight trials. The company will also continue increasing R&D investment, advancing E20 eVTOL development and certification at full speed.

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Originating in Silicon Valley, BlueRun Ventures was established in 2005 as a venture capital firm focused on early-stage startups.

Currently, BlueRun Ventures manages multiple USD and RMB dual-currency funds in China, with assets under management exceeding RMB 15 billion, making it one of the largest early-stage funds in the country. The firm invests primarily at Pre-A and A rounds, covering technology, consumer, and healthcare sectors. It has accumulated nearly 200 portfolio companies, including Li Auto, Waterdrop, QingCloud, Guazi.com, Qudian, Ganji.com, Energy Monster, Gaussian Robotics, Songguo Chuxing, Yuntu Semiconductor, Machenike, Yunheng Intelligence, Anxin Wangdun, and BioMap.

BlueRun Ventures has been ranked first in Zero2IPO's "Top 30 Early-Stage Investment Institutions in China" and ChinaVenture's "Top 30 Best Early-Stage Venture Capital Institutions in China," and was named among Preqin's Top 10 VC fund managers globally for sustained high returns.

Additionally, BlueRun Ventures has received consecutive annual recognition from Forbes China, 36Kr, Cyzone, Caixin Media, CBNweekly, Jiemian, and other media organizations as "China's Best Early-Stage Firm," "China's Top Venture Capital Firm," "Most Entrepreneur-Friendly Early-Stage Firm," and "Most Influential Early-Stage Firm."