Supernal Halts eVTOL Development Amid Leadership Shake-Up

Supernal, Hyundai’s electric air-taxi division, has halted development of its eVTOL aircraft program. This decision follows the sudden exit of its Chief Executive Officer, Jaiwon Shin, and Chief Technology Officer, David McBride. The pause signals more than a routine reassessment. The company is closely examining its progress and reconsidering what direction to take next.

Leadership Departures and Cuts Shake Confidence

Shin had been at the helm of Supernal since its inception in 2021, while McBride played a key role in guiding the company’s technological vision. Their simultaneous departure has coincided with workforce reductions, with nearly 5 percent of staff laid off, as well as a headquarters relocation from Washington, D.C., to Irvine, California. Taken together, these moves suggest that the pause is a deeper structural issue rather than a minor disruption.

First Flights Only Just Begun

Earlier this year, Supernal’s eVTOL prototype achieved its first test flight. However, the aircraft has not yet completed an untethered or fully independent flight. The company’s initial target for a 2028 commercial launch now faces uncertainty. During this transition, David Rottblatt, Senior Business Development Director, has been appointed interim Chief Operating Officer to ensure continuity while the leadership vacuum is addressed.

Industry Woes Mean High Stakes

The electric air-taxi industry has been marked by both promising breakthroughs and striking failures. Joby Aviation continues to attract funding and forge strong partnerships, while Lilium’s collapse serves as a warning of how fragile the path to commercialization can be. Supernal’s current pause is therefore not an isolated event but part of a wider pattern of volatility that defines this emerging sector.

What Hyundai’s Strategy Now Looks Like

Hyundai Group has announced plans to appoint new leadership with deep experience in business operations. This team will be tasked with determining whether the 2028 launch goal remains achievable. While the group has not released any new timeline or detailed explanation regarding McBride’s exit, the appointment of seasoned leadership is seen as critical to restoring momentum.

Lessons from Hyundai’s Other Innovation Ventures

This situation is not the first major internal restructuring for Hyundai’s innovation-driven projects. Its autonomous vehicle joint venture, Motional, underwent a significant shake-up after Aptiv scaled back its involvement, which included mass layoffs and the departure of the company’s Chief Executive Officer. Such repeated restructuring raises important questions about Hyundai’s ability to sustain its ambitious technology ventures over the long term.

What This Means Going Forward

Supernal’s vision is ambitious: the creation of five-seat, battery-powered eVTOLs designed for urban air mobility. Yet the program now faces heightened risk. Without a clear roadmap, stable leadership, or confirmed timeline, momentum is difficult to maintain. Hyundai’s hope lies in installing leadership that can blend operational discipline with strategic foresight, guiding the company through technological, regulatory, and financial challenges. Whether that vision can still take flight in time for 2028 remains an open question.