Riyadh - Sharikat Mubasher: Germany-based air taxi developer Lilium NV is close to signing deals to sell 100 electric flying taxis to Saudi Arabia’s state-owned airline, formalizing a framework deal arranged in late 2022.

The startup is likely to announce this Saudi order at an event at its headquarters near Munich later this month, people familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The source said the aim was to convert the deal into a concrete order for vertical take-off electric air taxis.

Lilium declined to give a statement on this but sent an invitation to the same event, saying reporters would witness an important contract signing.

It would be one of the biggest orders for Lilium, which says it has 780 firm orders and letters of intent to date, including the plans with Saudi Arabia. The firm needs advance payments from customers to finalize the development of its flying taxi.