Eve Air Mobility has reached an agreement with Japan’s largest public helicopter air charter service, AirX, for up to 50 of its electric vehicle takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
On April 17, 2024, the two companies announced that they had signed a letter of intent for up to 10 eVTOL aircraft, with an option for 40 more in the future.
“We appreciate AirX’s trust and confidence in Eve by not only purchasing our eVTOL aircraft, but services and operations solutions and our Vector – the urban air traffic management software,” Johann Bordais, CEO of Eve, said. “Japan has been progressive in their approach and interest in eVTOL operations, and we look forward to continuing to expand our relationships and as we support Japan’s urban air mobility objectives going forward.”
Eve Air’s flying taxi is considered one of the leading eVTOLs in the evolving industry and has already secured letters of intent for nearly 3,000 vehicles.
The company has begun assembly of its first full-scale eVTOL prototype. It will be followed by a test campaign before the aircraft enters into service, which is expected in 2026.
“We are deeply impressed not only by EVE’s technological capabilities, but also by their commitment to building an ecosystem,” Kiwamu Tezuka, CEO of AirX, said. “Our aim is to revolutionize the current industry, making transport services useful and affordable for everyone. By integrating our knowledge, experiences, and existing business platform with EVE’s comprehensive solutions, we hope to overcome transportation limitations by advancing eVTOL operations in Japan.”
That's a wrap on our last Trade day of the #SGAirshow2024! We had the best time discussing how Eve plans to revolutionize the skies, collaborating with industry partners, and showcasing our mock-up for the first time in Asia. #MobilityReimagined #eVTOL pic.twitter.com/TsBkPGLcPR
— Eve Air Mobility (@EveAirMobility) February 23, 2024
AirX is helping to lead development of the urban air mobility (UAM) industry in Japan. It has already announced the launch of the Greater Tokyo Area’s first eVTOL test field, the UAM Centre.
The UAM Centre is set to “revolutionize air travel in the Tokyo metropolitan area, showcasing the company’s commitment to innovation and the future of transportation”.
Eve’s eVTOL aircraft utilizes a “lift+cruise” configuration, with eight dedicated propellers for vertical flight and fixed wings to fly on cruise, requiring no change in the position of these components during flight.