Lilium, a defunct electric aircraft startup, sees its tech carried forward by Archer.

Even though electric aircraft startup Lilium stopped operating a year prior, its insolvency filing did not mark the definitive conclusion for the company based in Germany.

Numerous unsuccessful attempts were made to restructure the business, including a final effort by Mobile Uplift Corporation—an entity established by investors from both Europe and North America—to secure the operational assets belonging to the startup’s pair of subsidiaries. Ultimately, a bankruptcy administrator subjected the assets of the business to a competitive bidding procedure.

Now, some of its technology will continue at Archer Aviation, which triumphed over Ambitious Air Mobility Group and Joby Aviation, based in the U.S., with a winning bid of €18 million ($21 million) for all 300 of Lilium’s patent holdings. Joby has acknowledged its involvement in the bidding.

Lilium, established in 2015, was in the process of creating an aircraft capable of vertical take-off and landing, achieving speeds of up to 100 km/h. The company procured upwards of $1 billion from its investors before its 2021 debut on the Nasdaq stock exchange, facilitated by a merger with Qell, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC). Despite successfully attracting prominent investors such as Tencent and securing commitments from customers, including a deal for 100 electric jets from Saudi Arabia, it depleted its capital well before it could finalize a deliverable product.

The patents encompass vital eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) technologies, notably high-voltage systems, flight management, ducted propellers, and innovative aircraft designs, as reported by an Archer representative. These recent patents signify a “substantial enhancement” to Archer’s expanding IP portfolio, which now totals more than 1,000 patent assets globally, the spokesperson stated in an email.

Archer’s intended application of these patents remains somewhat unclear, although there are indicators. Lilium’s electric ducted fans could be well-suited for either light-sport or regional electric flight, potentially extending beyond Archer’s initial goals.

Archer, which went public in 2021 through a merger with a special purpose acquisition company, initially prioritized the development of an air taxi network. It introduced a defense program that December, featuring an exclusive arrangement with weapons manufacturer Anduril for the joint development of a VTOL aircraft, powered by a hybrid of gas and electricity, for crucial defense purposes.