MUNICH (dpa-AFX) - The CSU has accused Bavarian Minister of Economic Affairs Hubert Aiwanger (Free Voters) of blocking a guarantee for the electric helicopter manufacturer Volocopter and thus the start-up's move to Bavaria. CSU parliamentary group leader Klaus Holetschek said in Munich on Wednesday: "We must not let this unique opportunity pass us by under any circumstances in economically difficult times, otherwise we will gamble away our reputation as an innovative business location."

Volocopter, based in Bruchsal, Baden-Württemberg, received permission from the Federal Aviation Authority in March to mass-produce its electric flying cabs and train pilots. The "Münchner Merkur" reported on Wednesday that Volocopter urgently needed 100 million euros, but was unable to obtain the necessary state guarantee from the state of Baden-Württemberg. Volocopter is prepared to move to Bavaria if the state guarantees 50 million euros. The federal government would contribute the other 50 million euros. Aiwanger rejected this.

Volocopter and the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs initially declined to comment when asked by dpa.

Holetschek said: "It is incomprehensible to the CSU parliamentary group that the Minister of Economic Affairs is refusing to give his approval to the federal and state governments for this pioneering Volocopter investment with a possible cluster with other companies". The start-up Lilium, which also develops electric air cabs, is based in Oberpfaffenhofen near Munich. Holetschek explained: "We are the technology leaders in this area and should not leave this field to the Chinese."

FDP state leader Martin Hagen said that Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) was prepared to contribute 100 million euros as a convertible loan to finance Volocopter via the federally owned KfW Bank, but only if the Free State guaranteed half of it. According to Hagen, Aiwanger is thus preventing the establishment of a technology leader in the field of electrically powered aircraft in Oberpfaffenhofen.

Volocopter was founded in 2011 and wants to build two-seater electric helicopters as air cabs. Its investors include companies such as Mercedes-Benz, the Chinese car manufacturer Geely and the US asset manager Blackrock. The borrower can repay a convertible loan with shares in the company./rol/DP/jha