Anand Mahindra Gives A Shout Out To IIT Madras And Incubators For Driving India's Innovation Revolution

Imagine avoiding all of the traffic snarls to travel to an important event on the opposite side of town for a cost that isn’t much more than an Uber trip. The ePlane Company, an IIT Madras-incubated firm, is developing an all-electric vertical take off and landing (VTOL) air taxi for just this purpose. If it is successful, it will be among the world’s first. The institution’s critical role in promoting an innovative culture was praised by Anand Mahindra, chairman of the Mahindra Group.

According to Mahindra, the country’s reputation for creativity has changed as a result of IIT Madras and several other aspirational incubators across India.

“IIT Madras has become one of the WORLD’s most exciting and active incubators. Thanks to them and the rapidly growing number of ambitious incubators throughout India, we’re no longer seen as a country that lacks genuine innovators,” Mahindra said.

In his post, Mahindra stated that the ePlane Company is making a major advancement in the nation’s transportation innovation, which featured a picture of India’s first electric flying taxi. He also stressed the need to have audacious goals.

The post has garnered 156,200 views on the social media platform so far. Users in the comments section also lauded this technological advancement currently in the process.

An individual stated, “Exciting times, this is audacious thinking taking root. With our immense talent pool and a supportive environment, Indian innovators are truly taking flight.”

Another person said, “Wow, what an impressive startup emerging from IIT Madras! It’s one of the most distinctive startups in India, and it’s reshaping our nation’s reputation for lacking true innovators.”

Yet another user wrote, “That’s the kind of ambitious timeline that separates the dreamers from the doers. Kudos to the incubator and the team behind this incredible project – they’re redefining what’s possible and putting India on the map as a global hub for transformative technologies.”

About ePlane Company

Founded by Satyanarayanan Chakravarthy, the ePlane Company is now being incubated at IIT Madras in Chennai. The ePlane Company is working to create the first flying electric taxi in India that is compact enough for freight transportation and intra-city travel. The ePlane e200 is a two-seater aircraft designed to fly in urban environments.

On May 23 last year, this company became the first electric aircraft firm in India to receive critical approval from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), marking a significant milestone.