California startup Archer Aviation says it is on track to certify a four-passenger electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle for aerial ridesharing services in late 2024, and will finalize design of a production version using lessons learned from development of the Maker, a two-seat prototype unveiled in Los Angeles on June 10.
With investments from American Airlines, Avolon, Honeywell and Rolls-Royce, plus commitments for up to 1,000 aircraft, electric air-taxi developer Vertical Aerospace has reached agreement with blank-check company Broadstone Acquisition to go public in a deal that values the UK startup at $2.2 billion.
Hard on the heels of its agreement with UK and U.S. helicopter operator Halo Aviation, Embraer spinoff Eve Urban Air Mobility has partnered with Brazil’s Helisul Aviation to develop an ecosystem for aerial ridesharing.
How the early leaders in urban air mobility plan to roll out their air taxi services is becoming more clear: Details about their plans are emerging as parts of deals to go public, with valuations in the billions of dollars.
Responding to Wisk Aero’s lawsuit alleging the theft of trade secrets, Archer Aviation has described the case as “entirely baseless” and accused its urban air mobility (UAM) rival of “reckless innuendo and rank speculation” in a bid to “weaponize the legal system” to harm the startup.
Barely a month after being acquired by private-aviation powerhouse Directional Aviation, helicopter operator Halo Aviation has announced a partnership with Embraer spinoff Eve Urban Air Mobility to develop an electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing air-taxi operation in the UK and U.S.
Bye Aerospace said its eFlyer 800 electric aircraft program remains on track despite expected battery supplier Oxis Energy entering insolvency administration in the UK.
Honeywell and Japan-based electric automotive specialist Denso have formed an alliance to develop electric propulsion systems for urban air mobility vehicles.
Wisk Aero is seeking a court injunction to prevent Archer Aviation from using trade secrets the Kitty Hawk/Boeing joint company alleges were stolen by former employees hired away by the rival urban air-taxi developer. Archer described the lawsuit as “baseless.”
Volocopter has unveiled a larger, longer-range electric vertical-takeoff air taxi aimed at expanding its planned urban air mobility service out to the suburbs.
With more than 100 companies trying to break into the nascent urban air mobility market, it is perhaps inevitable that some of the vehicle designs look similar. But Boeing-backed Wisk sees enough similarities between one of its designs and new entrant Archer’s aircraft that it has filed a lawsuit.
Lift Aircraft, maker of the Hexa electric vertical takeoff and landing multicopter, has joined Joby Aviation in gaining U.S. military flight release via the U.S. Air Force’s Agility Prime program, according to the Air Force director of AFWerx.
Archer said the agreement supports its vision of being a leader in the first wave of urban air mobility providers with the goal of beginning passenger services by 2024.
