Larry Page-Backed Pivotal Replaces CEO as Flying Car Company Expands

Pivotal, the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft company backed by Google co-founder Larry Page, has replaced its chief executive officer as it continues developing lightweight electric aircraft.

Ken Karklin, who led Pivotal for more than four years, has left the CEO position. The company said Karklin is pursuing new opportunities, while aviation executive Mike Ross will serve as interim CEO after joining Pivotal’s board of directors in 2025.

In a statement announcing the leadership transition, Pivotal said its team, priorities, and product roadmap remain unchanged as it moves forward with its aircraft development plans.

Pivotal Continues Helix and BlackFly Aircraft Development

Karklin’s departure comes two years after Pivotal began selling Helix, the company’s first lightweight personal electric aircraft. The single-seat eVTOL aircraft does not require a pilot’s license to operate and starts at approximately $200,000.

Mike Ross said the company remains focused on bringing its fourth-generation Helix aircraft to market while continuing its work on safety, engineering, and accessibility.

Pivotal has also spent years developing BlackFly, an electric aircraft designed for defence and first-responder applications. The company said BlackFly recently responded to an emergency in North Carolina and arrived at the location before an ambulance responding to the same incident.

According to a report on the emergency response involving BlackFly, the aircraft was used in an emergency operation in Hyde County, North Carolina.

eVTOL Industry Pushes Toward Real-World Operations

Pivotal said BlackFly has completed more than 10,000 flights as the company continues to test and improve its aircraft. The company is among the eVTOL developers selected for the Federal Aviation Administration’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program, which supports testing of these aircraft across the United States.

The leadership change comes as Pivotal shifts from early aircraft development to broader commercial applications of electric aviation technology.