Pivotal's CEO Ken Karklin Departs as Company Advances eVTOL Aircraft Development
Ken Karklin has stepped down as CEO of Pivotal, a flying car company backed by Larry Page. In his statement, Karklin highlighted the progress made in transitioning from prototypes to real-world applications for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. He will be replaced on an interim basis by Mike Ross, who joined Pivotal’s board earlier this year. Pivotal has been developing its Helix personal eVTOL aircraft since 2023, with a starting price of $200,000 and no pilot's license required. The company is also working on the BlackFly model for defense and emergency response use cases. Recently, BlackFly was used in an actual emergency situation in North Carolina, arriving faster than traditional ambulance services. Pivotal remains part of the Federal Aviation Administration’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program, which supports testing efforts across the U.S., indicating continued regulatory engagement as it moves toward commercialization.
Topics: eVTOL executive change flying car industry