Vaeridion, the German manufacturer of the Microliner all-electric aircraft, has secured its first battery manufacturing facility at Oberpfaffenhofen airport, near Munich. The facility is scheduled to be operational in the first quarter of 2026. The launch of the site marks a significant milestone towards the company's mission to deliver clean and affordable regional flights before 2030.

The new facility will serve as the cornerstone of Vaeridion's production operations, focusing on the development and assembly of high-performance battery systems to support the initial flight test campaign towards type certification. Strategically located at Oberpfaffenhofen airport, the site provides close integration with aerospace partners, testing infrastructure and flight operations. This positions Vaeridion ideally on its path to scale innovation from the laboratory to the runway. Notably, Oberpfaffenhofen is one of the few airports in Germany where experimental flight testing can take place.

In line with its mission to advance electric aviation in Germany, Vaeridion is repurposing infrastructure originally developed by its former operator, Lilium, ensuring efficient use of capital. The company has also acquired the key assets for battery industrialisation inside the facility from Lilium's insolvency administrator, enabling an accelerated ramp-up of its battery manufacturing capabilities.

Combined with the assets previously acquired from Rolls-Royce Electrical, Vaeridion has now established both R&D and low-rate initial production capabilities covering the entire propulsion system.

By reactivating and adapting these existing assets, Vaeridion not only avoids duplicating investments but also ensures that valuable public and private resources continue to contribute to the advancement of sustainable aviation. This approach aligns closely with the company's strategy to expand into the European market while supporting the long-term competitiveness of Germany's aerospace ecosystem.

“Our leadership in advancing electric aviation in Germany goes hand in hand with our commitment to strengthen the larger Munich area as a hub for innovation and breakthrough projects. This location provides the ideal setting to bring next-generation regional aircraft into the air,“ says Ivor van Dartel, CEO and co-founder at Vaeridion.

The investment in the Oberpfaffenhofen site also opens new opportunities for collaboration within the local aerospace cluster. Meanwhile, Vaeridion continues to collaborate with established partners in the Munich ecosystem, including theTechnical University of Munich, GKN Aerospace, Bosch Engineering, Aero-Dienst and Bauhaus Luftfahrt.