eVTOL

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.

XPeng Motors celebrated its annual Tech Day event in China earlier today, which was renamed “AI Day” for good reason. The topic of artificial intelligence dominated the Chinese mobility company’s incoming technologies, which were abundant. We got updates on a new in-house AI computing chip, a new Xpeng platform to support Level 4 autonomous robotaxis, flying cars, and eVTOLs, a new humanoid robot called “Iron,” complete with an existential launch video, and a surprising adoption of combustion-powered extenders that deliver up to 970 miles of additional range.

Fresh off a $500 million investment from Toyota, eVTOL air taxi developer Joby Aviation has taken its aviation technology to Japan for the first time to demonstrate sustainable flight capabilities for its business partner, which you can view in the video below.

AeroHT, the eVTOL and “flying car” business arm of XPeng, moved one step closer to full-fledged production, breaking ground on a new facility in China capable of assembling 10,000 units annually.
When complete, the facility will build the AeroHT’s flagship commercial product – an eVTOL/vehicle combo called the “Land Aircraft Carrier.”

Nascent eVTOL “flying car” racing league Airspeeder has announced a collaboration with renowned architecture firm HOK to introduce the “SkyDeck,” described as the world’s first modular race vertiport. This solar-powered hub will offer fans 360-degree views of the eVTOLs racing through the air, bringing a new level of immersion to motorsports.

eVTOL air taxi developer Joby Aviation has secured a fresh round of funding from previous investor Toyota Motor Corporation, totaling $500 million. With its investment, Toyota’s total funding committed to the eVTOL specialist inches closer to $1 billion. The money will help Joby secure flight certification and begin commercial production of its sustainable aerial technology.

Electric aircraft developer BETA Technologies may have plans to provide its technology to cargo and medical transport to begin, but its longer-term goal is to implement passenger travel in its flagship ALIA eVTOL. Recently, the company shared a look at what that five-passenger vessel will look like before it launches commercial operations in the future.

The Jetsons may have come out in the 1960s, but in 2024, we are finally close to quickly traveling by air via electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. A recent market report from the Global Advanced/Urban Air Mobility Market Map team of AAM analysts has shared that companies around the world are gearing up for this transition into small sustainable mobility, laying plans to erect over 1,000 vertiports to support growing eVTOL networks that are inching closer to commercial operations.

eVTOL developer Archer Aviation has just laid out some plans to help alleviate some of the nasty traffic around Los Angeles. Today, the company outlined an air mobility network it is developing for Southern California that will bring eVTOL air taxi rides to the public within the next two years.

Prominent eVTOL developer AutoFlight has announced the signing of a strategic cooperation agreement with battery behemoth CATL in which the latter will invest hundreds of millions to support the former’s arial technology development.

Saudi Arabia Holding Co. has announced plans to deploy thousands of “automatic” single—and dual-seat eCopter aircraft from FlyNow Aviation to transport the public during the upcoming Riyadh Expo 2030. These unique electric aircraft will begin with cargo before flying actual people around the kingdom.

Global aerospace and technology company Vertical has unveiled its latest full-scale eVTOL prototype in the UK, where it was developed and assembled. The VX4 eVTOL is more powerful than previous prototypes from Vertical Aerospace and will soon begin flight tests to improve further.

Southwest Airlines is the latest major airline to explore the possibility of eVTOL air taxi travel and has chosen Archer Aviation’s technology to help get it there. The two companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop a network of electric air taxi operations across multiple airports, beginning in California.

eVTOL developer Joby Aviation has completed its latest milestone in demonstrating the plausibility of zero-emission regional air travel. By using hydrogen-electric propulsion developed by its subsidiary H2FLY, Joby recently completed a 523-mile eVTOL flight in California.

Blossoming eVTOL developer Archer Aviation has announced a signed Memorandum of Understanding with Signature Aviation. This agreement enables access to key hubs for United Airlines and a network of private airport terminals in the US to operate commercial air taxi rides using eVTOLs.

Archer Aviation continues to make developmental headway in its quest to commercial eVTOL operations. Archer recently completed a successful transition flight—one of the trickiest maneuvers to overcome in eVTOL design. The advanced air mobility developer filmed the entire journey, reaching flight speeds of over 100 mph.

One week after sharing plans to bring commercial eVTOL operations to South Korea, advanced air mobility developer Archer Aviation is touting a key milestone in the US. The eVTOL air taxi manufacturer has received Part 135 certification from the FAA – a vital certificate to begin commercial flights – and Archer is now one of two air taxi companies worldwide to confirm the receipt of one.

Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft developer Archer Aviation is continuing to lay the global groundwork for commercial operations in a new territory: South Korea. The next-generation aircraft specialist has announced a new partnership with Korea’s leading mobility-as-a-service company, KaKaoMobility, to participate in the country’s Grand Challenge and bring eVTOL travel to the region quickly.

eVTOL jet developer Lilium has signed another pivotal partnership overseas that will bring aviation technology operations to the South of France and possibly other parts of Europe. The advanced air mobility startup is working with UrbanV out of Italy, and Aeroports de la Côte d’Azur forge to implement a vertiport network in the French Riviera, which could very well be the first region in Europe to enable regional eVTOL travel.

Electric aircraft developer BETA Technologies has shared video footage of its ALIA eVTOL transitioning from vertical takeoff to forward propulsion and back in its latest test video. This is a key milestone as the company seeks certification for the aircraft ahead of several use cases.

XPeng’s eVTOL arm, AeroHT, announced its latest milestone today in a quest to achieve commercial operations of its all-electric “flying cars” in China. The company has successfully received design certification from the powers that be for its air module vehicle, codenamed X3-F, bringing the technology one step closer to flight certification and customer deliveries.