Air taxis: These are the top VTOL aircraft makers changing the way we fly

eVTOL: Numerous teams, backed by institutional and "angel" investors, are making significant strides in the development of the next-generation electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Startups such as Joby Aviation, Lilium, EHang, as well as nameplate planemakers Boeing, and Airbus are at the forefront of developing eVTOL vehicles. When will these new generation of air transport start commercial operations? There are various factors involved, including successful completion of testing and certification, regulatory approval and whether or not people will actually pay for it.

VOLOCOPTER: Dubai made a giant leap in autonomous mobility with the maiden flight of the world’s first autonomous air taxi (AAT), planned for use in a self-flying taxi service in the Emirate. The two-seater, capable of transporting people without human intervention or a pilot, was provided by Volocopter. The test flight was held at a location near the Jumeirah Beach Park. Volocopter GmbH, founded in 2011, is a German aircraft manufacturer based in Bruchsal. The company specialises in the design of electric multirotor helicopters in the form of personal air vehicles, designed for "air taxi" use. The VC1 was first flown in October 2011.

JOBY: Founded on September 11, 2009 (called Joby Aero), it's one of several projects incubated by JoeBen Bevirt on his ranch in the Santa Cruz Mountains. It has been a key player in the eVTOL space, developing all-electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft for urban air mobility. Joby recently performed the first electric air taxi flight in New York City in a test amid Manhattan’s high-rises.

LILIUM: Established in 2015 in Munich, Germany, Lilium focuses on electric aircraft for regional air mobility. Their innovative eVTOL design, the Lilium Jet, a 7-seater, targets efficient point-to-point transportation. It boasts a cruise speed of 280 km/h (175 mph), a range exceeding 250 km (155 miles), and operates at a cruise altitude of 3,000 m (10,000 ft). Saudi Arabian (Saudia), the Kingdom’s national airline, recently unveiled plans to purchase 100 all-electric jets made by Lilium.

VERTICAL AEROSPACE: Founded in 2016 by Stephen Fitzpatrick, a former Formula 1 team owner and CEO of OVO Energy, Vertical Aerospace, based in Bristol, UK, specialises in electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft for both passengers and cargo. In July 2023, Vertical Aerospace has revealed significant progress with the flight test campaign for the first full scale prototype of its VX4 eVTOL aircraft. Vertical's flight test centre at Cotswald Airport in Kembel, UK, carried out tethered hover on battery power on June 6 and untethered flight tests weeks later, reaching up to 40 knots in thrust-borne flight over the airfield, reports The Air Current.The company aims to seek certification as early as 2024.

EHANG: Established in December 2014 by Huazhi Hu, who serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, EHang, headquartered in Guangzhou, China, is renowned for its autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV) innovations, encompassing passenger and cargo drones.

FLYNOW: Austrian company Flynow has joined the race for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for urban mobility. One of their prototypes has been drawing enthusiasts outside the Science and Technology Hub at the COP28 UAE in Dubai. Flynow has received regulatory approval with certification from the European Agency for Space Aviation. In 28 months, the Salzburg-based company expects to roll out the cargo version, said Yvonne Winter, the chief operating officer and co-founder of Flynow. The company plans to start with the cargo version, which can carry 200kg payload. It promises to be the most efficient, most silent, most affordable configuration for transporting goods from A to B.

TERRAFUGIA: Established in 2006 and a subsidiary of China's Geely, Terrafugia, located in Woburn, Massachusetts, is actively developing the Transition, a "roadable" aircraft, and the TF-2, an eVTOL concept for urban air mobility. Additionally, the Chinese-owned corporation is working on a flying car named the TF-X.

CITYAIRBUS NEXTGEN: This Airbus-based company, founded in 1970 and based in France, is actively involved in the development of eVTOL aircraft through its Urban Air Mobility division. The Vahana and CityAirbus Nextgen projects are among their initiatives.
Airbus announced in 2021 that the CityAirbus NextGen, a fully-electric 4 seat eVTOL, is designed to be certified under the EASA special condition eVTOL. It will have about 80km range, 120kph cruise speed, 65 (cruise) to 70 (landing) decibel noise output.

SKYDRIVE: Established in 2018 and based in Japan, SkyDrive inherits the legacy of Cartivator, a flying car project initiated in 2012 and later acquired. Initially funded by Toyota, SkyDrive recently secured 9.6 billion yen ($67 million) to expedite its eVTOL vehicle development. The company aims for its inaugural commercial flight by the 2025 World Expo in Osaka.

BELL NEXUS: Developed by Bell, a US company established in 1935, the Bell Nexus is a hybrid-electric VTOL air taxi designed for urban air mobility. In April 2022, Bell acquired Pipistrel and formed Textron eAviation, focusing on conventional and electric VTOL aircraft for advanced air mobility. Textron eAviation oversees Bell's Nexus program, unveiling the Nexus 4EX at CES 2020—an all-electric, experimental, autonomous UAM aircraft. Equipped with four ducted propellers, a 150 mph cruise speed, and a 60-mile range, the Nexus 4EX offers flexibility with hybrid-electric powertrains, providing a range exceeding 150 miles for potential customers.

SUPERNAL: A model of Supernal Electric Air Vehicle on display in Seoul. Established in November 2021 and supported by Hyundai Motor Group, Supernal aspires to spearhead advancements in Advanced Air Mobility (AAM). Positioning itself as a "smart mobility service provider," the company is committed to constructing an integrated ground-to-air ecosystem to bolster the evolving AAM sector. Supernal aims to seamlessly blend autonomy, electrification, robotics, and smart manufacturing technologies to expedite the creation of sustainable mobility solutions. Ultimately, the company envisions redefining how individuals move, connect, and experience daily life.

ARCHER AVIATION: Founded in October 2018 and headquartered in San Jose, California, Archer, an aerospace company, is dedicated to constructing an all-electric VTOL aircraft aimed at enhancing urban mobility. The company strives to promote the advantages of sustainable air mobility. Archer has partnered with BETA Technologies to deploy fast chargers at its California test facility, facilitating the testing phase for the development of their eVTOL aircraft.

EVE EMBRAER: Launched in October 2020, Eve is an independent company initiated by Brazil's Embraer with the goal of expediting the Urban Air Mobility (UAM) ecosystem. Eve has recently collaborated with Kookiejar to develop an urban air traffic management system for operations in Dubai. Notably, in September 2022, United placed an order for 200 units of Embraer Eve flying taxis, designed to transport passengers between city centers and airports as a solution to alleviate roadway traffic.

MOOG: Founded in 1951, Moog, a US-based company, specializes in designing and manufacturing electric, electro-hydraulic, and hydraulic motion controls and systems across various sectors, including aerospace, defense, industry, and medical devices. Moog acquired the Workhorse SureFly electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) commercial aircraft for $5 million in 2019. In 2021, Moog disclosed plans to enhance its SureFly eVTOL for military applications and is actively engaged in the US Air Force's AFWERX programme.

JAUNT: Established in Texas in 2019, Jaunt, a subsidiary of Airo Group, acquired the Intellectual Property (IP) from Carter Aviation, specializing in slowed-rotor and related enabling technologies. Airo Group, primarily engaged in avionics and drones, owns Jaunt Air Mobility. Jaunt's strategic plan involves offering its Journey eVTOL to air taxi operators. Jaunt has secured funding for market research to enhance high-speed VTOL capabilities for the US Department of Defense (DoD). The Jaunt Multi-Mission Air Vehicle (MAV 55) integrates the speed and capabilities of a fixed-wing aircraft with VTOL using highly efficient patented Slowed-Rotor Compound (SRC) technologies.

WISK: Established in 2019 through a collaboration between Boeing and Larry Page's Kitty Hawk aircraft company, Wisk has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Boeing since May 2023. The company is actively working on its Generation 6 eVTOL aircraft, showcased at the Paris Air Show, envisioned as "our ticket to the future reality of safe, everyday flight for everyone."