Musk-backed Swisspod eyes opportunity in India hyperloop feasibility study

Elon Musk-backed Swisspod Technologies is eyeing an India footprint through collaboration in joint research, development, and construction of commercial hyperloop systems.

Speaking to ET, Denis Tudor, CEO & Co-founder of Swisspod said the Indian government can invest in a study for commercial routes of a joint venture his company has with TuTr Hyperloop, an Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras)-incubated Deep Tech Start-up.

Hyperloop is an under development high-speed mass transport system. It operates like railways but uses newer technologies which are expected to be more efficient and cheaper. Globally these are multiple technologies being considered to achieve the goal of developing a transportation system using capsules supported by an air-bearing surface within a low-pressure tube.


“They (Indian government) could finance a feasibility study where we can be part of. We can offer them a service and work for the Indian government,” Tudor said while adding that some components of the Swisspod hyperloop test track are being sourced from India.

The original Hyperloop System was conceptualized by Swiss Professor Marcel Juffer in the 1970s. In 1992, Swissmetro SA was created to develop this project, but it went into liquidation in 2009. Interest in the technology was renewed in 2012 due to the publication of Elon Musk’s Hyperloop Alpha Paper.

In July 2021, Swisspod launched an infinite Hyperloop test track in Switzerland and first Vacuum Test was undertaken in March 2022. Swisspod also got a €3.5 million grant for developing Energy-Autonomous Hyperloop Vehicles in August 2023.

Tudor was in Delhi earlier this month to sign the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with TuTr Hyperloop. This MoU will contribute to the IIT Madras Center of Excellence for Hyperloop Technology, which has already received funding support from the Railways Ministry.

TuTr is working on development of cost-effective Hyperloop technologies. The initial focus will be on cargo movement which will be a precursor for deployment of high-speed mobility corridors for passenger transportation across the country.