Core Insights - Supernal, Hyundai's electric air taxi startup, has paused its aircraft program following significant leadership changes and staff reductions [1][3][5] - The company had recently conducted its first test flight but was still working towards its first untethered test flight before the pause [2][4] - The departure of CEO Jaiwon Shin and CTO David McBride has raised concerns about the startup's future and its planned commercial service launch in 2028 [3][4][8] Company Developments - Supernal's leadership transition includes David Rottblatt, who is currently overseeing business operations as Interim COO [6] - The company plans to appoint new leadership with expertise in business operations to advance Urban Air Mobility (UAM) solutions [6] - The startup had previously laid off dozens of employees and closed its Washington, D.C. headquarters, indicating ongoing operational challenges [5] Industry Context - The electric air taxi industry is experiencing significant upheaval, with some startups like Joby making progress while others, such as Lillium, have ceased operations [4] - Supernal's struggles mirror those of other Hyundai-backed ventures, such as Motional, which faced major restructuring and layoffs after losing funding from a partner [9][10]