Lilium has received Design Organisation Approval from EASA, a major milestone that authorises it to hold a type certificate for an eVTOL aircraft, and a seal of quality assurance that formally acknowledges the ability to design and develop safe and compliant aircraft. It is a core requirement for any commercial aircraft manufacturer.

CEO Klaus Roewe says: “In many respects, this marks a cornerstone for Lilium and evidences our market leadership in advancing the aviation industry. Achieving Design Organisation Approval reflects EASA's confidence in Lilium and differentiates us against others currently pursuing eVTOL development and regulatory approval. While we join a small, select group of companies qualified to develop commercial aircraft, this is especially significant for the global aviation industry as we are doing so by advancing sustainable regional air mobility. I appreciate the many Lilians and countless stakeholders that have played a pivotal role in us achieving today's milestone, and we look forward to further advancements towards commercialisation of the Lilium Jet. I would like to thank our counterparts at EASA for their professional cooperation, which I believe will continue to be very beneficial for the industry moving forward."

CTO and head of design organisation Alastair McIntosh adds: "In simple terms, the Design Organisation Approval is our licence to operate and confirms that Lilium has the organisation, procedures, competencies, resources and demonstrated rigour required to design and certify aircraft according to the very highest safety standards. This pays great tribute to our team. Receiving DOA from EASA further motivates us on our path to commercialise the revolutionary Lilium Jet."

Chief airworthiness officer and deputy CTO Bhavesh Mandalia comments: "In addition to European oversight, EASA's DOA brings significant benefits to our FAA certification process in the US by utilising the Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreements to validate the technology and aircraft."

Luc Tytgat, acting executive director, EASA says: "EASA is ensuring that everything is in place for the societal acceptance of urban air mobility. We are setting the right rules for operations and taking care of the environmental elements including noise, while of course ensuring that high safety standards are met. At the same time, we are wary of creating barriers to entering this new market, and we have worked in partnership with Lilium against a demanding timeline."

Lilium is now qualified to design and be a type certificate holder for aircraft developed according to EASA's SC-VTOL rules, the comprehensive set of eVTOL requirements that EASA finalised in 2019 and which represent the highest safety objectives globally for eVTOL aircraft.

The FAA issued its G-1 for the Lilium Jet in June, making Lilium the only eVTOL manufacturer with both an EASA and FAA certification basis for a powered lift eVTOL aircraft.