The automotive and aviation industries have converged more rapidly than ever since the 1920s, when car magnates like Henry Ford built airports and began carrying passengers and freight by air. Ford also created his Flivver aircraft, a one-seater, called the “Model T of the Air”, but both Ford’s aircraft and air service were in decline by his early 1930s.
The collaboration between today’s automakers and the emerging eVTOL market is very different. Several auto giants have spun off their own eVTOL divisions, while others are investing heavily in promising start-ups. Here are our main partners.
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Twelve other automotive badges have released renderings or full-scale models of futuristic electric aircraft. But tomorrow is here. With a range of 150 miles, these electric air taxis could become a multi-billion dollar global market by 2030, according to Deutsche Bank.
Automakers have varying degrees of involvement. Last year, Stellantis signed a long-term contract with Archer Aviation to provide access to the company’s engineering, supply chain and manufacturing expertise. Porsche will work with Embraer’s Yves Air Mobility unit to deliver a working prototype by 2026.
Toyota has invested $390 million in California-based Joby Aviation, one of the most promising start-ups in its fast-growing sector. The Japanese auto giant has backed an eVTOL manufacturer with a new production facility. Justin Lang, Joby’s head of corporate strategy, said he helped Toyota reduce the footprint of its production facility by more than 100,000 square feet. “The result is a factory layout that allows us to produce the same amount of aircraft in a smaller area, faster and at a lower cost,” he said.
Such relationships are necessary to provide funding for advancing eVTOL development. But partnerships work in other ways too. The partnership will help automakers shield themselves from uncertainty in several ways, including using the eVOTL project as a proving ground for high-performance battery cells that underpin electric vehicle technology. “Automakers can also learn about advanced composites, aerodynamics, safety design and potential adjacent markets,” said Jim Sherman, strategy director for the Vertical Flight Society, a trade association for the eVTOL sector. rice field. Rob report.
Hyundai has made its biggest leap by investing billions in and incubating startup Supernal. In July, the company unveiled his five-seat eVOTL cabin at the Farnborough International Airshow, reminiscent of the interior of a sedan.
“In aerospace, we tend to focus on aircraft technology and then lock the seat,” said Michael Whittaker, Chief Commercial Officer at Supernal. “Cars are more passenger-centric.”
rob report A new, yet-to-be-named aircraft could be experienced on an augmented reality display Supernal installed on the NBAA’s EBACE convention floor. The 10-minute AR goggle ride hovered over the roof of a building, navigated skyscrapers, and finally landed in Vertyport.
According to McKinsey & Co., the sector could expand to around 20 air taxi operations by 2030, after which it could narrow down to a handful of global players.
Sherman says the auto-eVTOL collaboration will continue. “eVTOL vehicles could pose a threat to future car sales,” he says.
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