Supernal, Hyundai Motor Group’s electric air taxi subsidiary, has temporarily halted work on its eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft following the exit of two top executives. The company’s CEO, Jaiwon Shin, and CTO, David McBride, both stepped down recently, triggering an internal reassessment of the project and a leadership reshuffle under interim management.

Hyundai launched Supernal in 2020 with the ambition of becoming a global leader in urban air mobility, targeting commercial operations by 2028. The company had showcased prototype designs and secured regulatory discussions across the US and Europe. However, the sudden leadership departures have cast uncertainty over its development timeline.

Industry observers suggest the pause reflects both internal restructuring and the broader challenges of scaling eVTOL technology, which faces high capital demands, complex certification processes, and intensifying competition from rivals like Joby Aviation, Archer Aviation, and Lilium.

Hyundai has confirmed that while development activities are on hold, the company remains committed to the long-term vision of air mobility. Interim leadership is expected to conduct a strategic review before finalizing the next steps.

The move highlights the volatility in the fast-emerging eVTOL industry, where even well-capitalized players are grappling with technological hurdles and leadership stability issues. Supernal’s trajectory will likely depend on how quickly Hyundai can stabilize its leadership team and reaffirm its commitment to the ambitious 2028 launch goal.