The Unmanned Aeronautics Association (VUL) presents its updated study on the German drone, air cab and drone detection and defense markets. The analysis shows more popularity for commercial drone use and forecasts further growth for the air cab segment.
High investment in drone market drives growth
There are currently 415,000 drones in Germany. Most of them, around 360,000 drones, are used privately. However, this share has been declining for several years. In contrast, the use of drones in the commercial sector has almost tripled since 2019, increasing by 197 percent to around 56,000 drones. This trend will continue in the coming years. Thus, the study forecasts drone growth in the commercial sector to 80,000 drones by 2030, while the total number remains roughly constant.
"We are very pleased that more and more companies in the drone economy are recognizing the benefits of drones, manufacturing them, deploying them and finding more investors," said Michael Garvens, chairman of the steering committee of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (VUL) association, assessing the result.
The growth in commercial use is also due to the high level of investment in drone companies: Over the past ten years, around 124 million euros have been invested in these companies, with drone companies receiving 93 percent of this sum in the past two years alone. On average, these companies in Germany are eight years old and employ around 20 people.
German airline taxi market set to grow strongly in the coming years
The airline taxi market in Germany is less developed. But here, too, the analysis predicts strong growth in the coming years. Already today, Germany is the largest airline taxi market in Europe. The companies are on average six years old and employ about 160 people. According to the study, the flight taxi market will grow to 167 million euros. This represents an increase of over 30 percent. "The figures are an important signal for the flight taxi market in Germany and show that we are leaders in this technology. To ensure that this development continues, it is important that prerequisites for ground- and air-based operation of air cabs are also established in a timely manner," Garvens said.
For now, no flying cabs are flying, as all devices are in the design, prototype or certification stages. However, that could change as early as next year: The first commercial flights are expected from 2024, and around 300 flight cabs are expected to be in operation in German airspace by 2030.
Predominantly military companies active in the field of drone detection and defense
For the first time, this study also examined the German market for drone detection and defense. The majority of companies active in this segment have a military orientation. Such technology can be used primarily in the areas of critical infrastructure and generally in security-critical areas. They also find application in the protection of certain areas, such as nature reserves.
