Hyundai's U.S. eVTOL Subsidiary Lays Off Nearly 80% of Staff

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Hyundai's U.S.-based electric air taxi subsidiary, Supernal, has laid off 296 employees, which is about 80% of its workforce. The company is retaining a skeleton crew of 70-80 people to continue operations and will be consolidating its facilities to its Irvine, California headquarters. Supernal cited the need to optimize its staffing and cost structures for the long-term delivery of its eVTOL aircraft design.

Why it matters

Supernal's layoffs and restructuring highlight the challenges facing the advanced air mobility industry as companies race to develop and certify their eVTOL aircraft. The layoffs could push back the timeline for Supernal's flagship S-A2 eVTOL, which was previously planned for certification in 2028, as the company pauses development to reevaluate its business model and strategy.

The details

Supernal laid off the majority of its staff on February 27, with the cuts affecting employees at its Mojave Air and Space Port test facility as well as in Orange County and Fremont. The company stated that this decision was a 'strategic pivot' to ensure its staffing and cost structures are optimized for the long-term delivery of its market-aligned aircraft design. Supernal's operations will now be consolidated to its Irvine headquarters, which it moved to from Washington, D.C. in 2023.

• Supernal started test flights for its flagship S-A2 eVTOL in April 2025.
• Supernal laid off 296 employees, about 80% of its workforce, on February 27, 2026.

What’s next

Supernal will be consolidating its operations to its Irvine headquarters as it reevaluates its business model and development timeline for the S-A2 eVTOL aircraft.