Supernal LLC Unveils the S-A2 Electric VTOL Vehicle at CES

Hyundai Motor Group’s subsidiary, Supernal LLC, showcased their electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) vehicle, the S-A2, at CES. The S-A2, designed for a pilot and four passengers, is based on the visionary concept S-A1 introduced four years ago. This concept, blending aviation engineering with Hyundai’s automotive design aesthetics, created a new mode of transportation for moving people more rapidly from point A to point B in urban areas. Supernal aims to achieve commercial flight safety certifications and start mass production by 2028.

The S-A2 is a V-tail aircraft designed to travel at speeds of 193 kilometers per hour at an altitude of 457 meters, suitable for typical urban trips ranging from 40 to 64 kilometers. It features a distributed architecture with eight tilt-rotors that can adjust in any direction. The production version is expected to operate as quietly as a dishwasher, with noise levels of 65 dB during vertical take-off and landing, and 45 dB in horizontal gliding.

Safety was a top priority in the design of the vehicle, with a focus on passenger comfort. To meet commercial aviation safety standards, it includes a robust airframe structure with redundant components in critical systems like power transmission, flight control, and avionics. The tilt-rotor configuration allows the vehicle to effectively operate in both vertical take-off and horizontal gliding phases.

Supernal continues to optimize the vehicle for mass production, aiming for the necessary certifications and expanded usage. Additionally, the focus is on the vehicle’s internal modularity and the potential for enhancing batteries, including the possibility of swapping battery modules as technology advances.