Once heralded as a transformative leap for urban mobility, Germany’s air taxi industry is now facing turbulent skies. With two prominent start-ups, Lilium and Volocopter, teetering on the brink of collapse, the dream of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft revolutionizing transport seems further away than ever.
14
Jan
Jan
Toyota, in collaboration with its partner Joby Aviation, has successfully completed the maiden test flight of their electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft in Japan. This achievement marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of urban mobility, blending Toyota’s manufacturing prowess with Joby’s aviation expertise. The eVTOL combines the capabilities of helicopters, drones, and small airplanes, creating a sustainable and innovative transportation solution.
03
Dec
Dec
A British drone manufacturer is taking a bold leap into the future of urban transportation. In just a few years, the skies over Europe could be buzzing with air taxis, offering an innovative solution to ease congestion on crowded city streets. Skyports, a leader in the field of urban air mobility, plans to launch its air taxi service in 2026 after successfully raising $110 million in funding. This move places Skyports at the forefront of an emerging market that is set to redefine how we think about urban travel.
28
Oct
Oct
Not quite a helicopter and not quite an airplane, but a blend of the two, is what the FAA is referring to. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has drafted regulations for the operation of would-be air taxis, making the road ahead for eVTOLs to take off smoother. On 22 October, the FAA published the final regulations, which include certain additions to previously drafted provisions, including those on pilot training, to ensure that the so-called powered lift vehicles are integrated into the US National Aviation System and that future air taxis can operate properly in urban environments.
26
Oct
Oct
The advent of air taxis heralds a transformative shift in urban mobility paradigms, offering a novel, multidimensional approach to intracity travel by delivering faster, more efficient, and direct routes across congested urban landscapes. These eVTOL (electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing) vehicles, engineered for short-distance urban and peri-urban missions, are explicitly aimed at mitigating the challenges of terrestrial traffic congestion and significantly reducing the temporal inefficiencies associated with traditional road travel.
25
Oct
Oct
A Brazilian company, Eve Air Mobility, aims to have electric air taxis in the skies within two years. These nearly “barebones” electric air taxis could soon be carrying passengers above bustling cities. While technological challenges have largely been resolved, the key obstacle is building the necessary infrastructure such as air taxi stands, take-off points, and charging stations.