Japan is quickly becoming a hub for eVTOL and air taxi technology. This morning, Archer Aviation announced it is the latest sustainable aviation developer to sign a deal in the region and implement aerial taxi transportation, beginning with Soracle Corporation’s purchase of up to 100 Midnight eVTOL aircraft.
As mentioned above, Japan, although slow in the uptake of all-electric vehicles, appears to be fully embracing the prospect of air taxi networks via electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. As far back as 2021, the Osaka Roundtable, a Japanese organization, announced a partnership with Germany’s Volocopter to strategize on how to develop and implement air taxi networks.
Other companies like SkyDrive have partnered with Japanese OEMs like Suzuki to help build its eVTOL aircraft overseas and even saw government funding in their ventures to continue advanced air mobility (AAM) development.
Earlier this week, Joby Aviation completed its first eVTOL test flight demonstration in Japan alongside executives from Toyota, a large investor. Today, California-based air taxi developer Archer Aviation announced it is joining its competitors overseas and already has its first customer lined up for a potentially large eVTOL order.
Archer forms joint venture to establish air taxis in Japan
Per Archer Aviation, it has signed a joint venture with Soracle Corporation, which itself was established this summer as a joint venture between Sumitomo Corporation and Japan Airlines, headquartered in Tokyo.
To get things started, Soracle intends to launch AAM operations in Japan using Archer’s flagship eVTOL aircraft in order to offer the public all-electric air taxi flights in cities where current ground vehicle transportation is constrained by traffic or geographic barriers.
As part of the joint venture, Soracle has secured the right to order up to 100 Midnight aircraft, totaling approximately $500 million. The terms of that potential purchase include pre-delivery payments based on certain milestones before the eVTOLs are delivered. Soracle CEO Yukihiro Ota shared his thoughts following a signing ceremony held between both companies on September 26, 2024:
Through the operation of eVTOL aircraft, Soracle aims to enrich lives and society by creating more accessible air transportation services in Japan. We will provide safe and reliable services to passengers by making the most of the wealth of knowledge we have accumulated at Japan Airlines and Sumitomo Corporation. Today’s announcement is a first step towards making the future we envision a reality.
To support its incoming fleet of Midnight eVTOLs from Archer, Soracle said it will develop a network of air taxi flight routes in attractive areas that residents, as well as domestic and international visitors, can utilize for speedier travel around Japan. The company hinted that those route locations could include notable metropolitan areas like Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Hokkaido, Setouchi, and Okinawa.
To begin commercializing AAM and air taxi services in Japan, Archer and Soracle shared joint plans to conduct a public flight demonstration at the World Expo to build public support, demonstrate the future of technology, and accelerate investments from stakeholders. The World Expo will take place in Osaka, Kansai, Japan, from April to October 2025.
With today’s news, Archer adds Soracle and Japan to its list of customers and partners around the world. A lineup that already includes Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, KaKaoMobility in Korea, and the United Arab Emirates.
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