Lilium N.V.

After selling off the last remnants of Lilium, the founders around Daniel Wiegand have launched a new aerial‑vehicle start‑up called Protea. The team was able to raise significant capital immediately, including from previous investors. Investigations reveal new details about the founding, the backers and the composition of the team. » Mere på manager-magazin.de

Flight-taxi developer Lilium has filed for insolvency for the second time despite raising around €1.5 billion in capital, after a planned rescue fund failed to materialize. According to reports, the company already sold patents to US rivals. Lilium is emblematic of a broader wave of German start-up insolvencies in 2025, triggered by high costs, cautious investors and rising interest rates. » Mere på finanzen.net

The insolvency administrator has sold Lilium’s patent portfolio to publicly listed US manufacturer Archer Aviation. Archer acquires more than 300 patents, including on high‑voltage systems, battery management, flight control and ducted‑fan technology, for €18 million. A previously planned rescue sale to Ambitious Air Mobility Group failed due to financing problems. Lilium had already filed for insolvency twice and had neither production readiness nor the promised funds. » Mere på heise.de

According to the court proceedings, the insolvency administrator signed a purchase agreement with Archer Aviation, which mainly took over patents from Lilium’s insolvency estate. Archer reportedly pays €18 million and is not interested in the prototypes and machinery; these are to be sold separately via online auction. There was a bidding competition, including from Joby and the Ambitious Air Mobility Group, and higher bids are said to have been made. Lilium had been insolvent several times, employees were sometimes unpaid for months, and earlier takeover attempts failed due to missing financing commitments. » Mere på wiwo.de

The owner of Oberpfaffenhofen airport has signed contracts for the two last large hangars that Lilium used before its insolvency. This makes it very likely that on‑site operations will not be continued and that construction of the "Lilium Jet" at the previous location will be prevented. » Mere på sueddeutsche.de