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☁️🚕 Can Toyota-backed Joby Aviation compete with German eVTOLs (electric vertical takeoff and landing) Volocopter and Lilium after $500M funding? This latest funding will support the California-based company in its race to bring eVTOL aircraft to market, with commercial flights slated to begin in 2025. 📈 While OpenAI is dominating the race of world’s most valuable startups with a valuation of $157B, apart from GenAI there are emerging technologies that are also reshaping the world. Among these is the rapidly developing field of autonomous electric flying taxis. Several major players are competing for dominance in the industry. Now, announcements are in Toyota has made substantial investments in this space, notably committing $500 million to Joby Aviation. 🤖 Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eiJ8CgzU JoeBen Bevirt Thomas Ruf #tech #funding #news #aviation #eVTOL #startup #investment #technology #innovation #electricvehicle #airtaxis

Sora Aviation, a Bristol-based UK startup, is making waves in the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) market with its innovative approach towards electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) technology. Recently featured on FINN (Farnborough International News Network), wearefinn.com, Sora Aviation's Co-Founder and CEO, Furqan -., shared insights into their groundbreaking eVTOL bus project aimed at revolutionizing urban transportation. Furqan, with extensive experience as the Technical Authority on AAM at GKN Aerospace, leads Sora Aviation's visionary initiatives. He collaborates closely with the company's CTO, Malcolm Foster, a stalwart in aircraft design with accolades from renowned organizations like Piper Aircraft, Bell Flight, and AgustaWestland. The name "Sora," meaning "Sky" in Japanese, symbolizes the company's lofty ambitions and commitment to sustainable aviation solutions. The concept of an eVTOL bus emerged from a strategic analysis of urban transportation needs and market dynamics. Recognizing the potential of dense routes such as downtown-to-airport shuttles, Sora Aviation aims to address these demands efficiently, offering zero-emission travel, reduced noise levels, and affordable ticket prices. Sora Aviation's S-1 eVTOL bus, catering to larger passenger capacities compared to conventional eVTOLs, represents a significant leap towards scalable and cost-effective urban air mobility solutions. With a targeted entry into service around 2031, the company is poised to reshape the future of urban transportation. Addressing infrastructure challenges, Sora Aviation emphasizes proactive engagement with infrastructure developers to align vertiport designs with the evolving needs of larger eVTOL aircraft. The company's strategic approach contrasts with early industry trends focused on smaller eVTOLs, driven partly by misconceptions regarding battery capabilities and operational priorities. Sora Aviation's foresight in developing larger eVTOL solutions underscores its commitment to addressing market needs effectively. Navigating certification pathways in collaboration with established air taxi companies positions Sora Aviation advantageously, leveraging existing regulatory frameworks and industry expertise. As Sora Aviation propels towards its vision of sustainable and scalable eVTOL solutions, industry stakeholders and enthusiasts can delve deeper into this transformative journey by exploring the full article on our blog. #AvfoilNews #SoraAviation #AdvancedAirMobility #eVTOL #UrbanAirMobility #SustainableAviation #Furqan #MalcolmFoster #AviationInnovation #FutureOfFlight

While the race to launch commercial eVTOL aircraft operations moves closer to the finish line, it’s also nice to go back to the beginning and speak with companies which are just starting out on their journey. One such company is Grasshopper Air Mobility. The Barcelona-based startup has got some exciting plans on the horizon and is releasing the design concept for its e350 Flying Cargo Van at the city’s New Economy Week today (Thursday). The e350 is an electric, fully autonomous VTOL drone capable of transporting one pallet of up to 350kg at 220km/h over 200 km fully electric, or 600 km hybrid hydrogen-electric, delivering goods over 100km in just under 30 minutes. eVTOL Insights’ Jason Pritchard spoke with Grasshopper Air Mobility's founder and CEO Jakob Saalfrank about the journey so far and how the company’s planned product will work. https://ow.ly/bCh650TIJBJ #evtolinsights #grasshopperairmobility #interview #dronelogistics #unmannedaircraft #dronedelivery #startup #barcelona #vtol #electricmobility

I just read an article in The Daily Upside about Flying Cars and eVTOLs. Hundreds of startups are investing billions into these low-emission vehicles for short regional trips. Companies like XPENG AEROHT, Archer Aviation and Joby Aviation are leading with innovative designs: Xpeng Aeroht is developing a supercar with hidden propellers, while Archer and Joby use tilting propellers for both lift and horizontal push. ZEVA AERO shifted from a flying saucer to a traditional plane design. Lilium is creating electric jets for regional transport, Alef Aeronautics is designing a car that transforms into a biplane, and UrbanLink Solutions plans to use Lilium jets to connect cities in South Florida. It's not the flying cars from the Jetsons, but transformation is coming. https://lnkd.in/gVqbwEPS #mobilty #eVTOLs #startups #inovation

Chinese battery manufacturing giant #CATL has invested “hundreds of millions of dollars” into #Chinese electric flying taxi startup and #eVTOL pioneer Autoflight. Autoflight announced over the weekend that it had signed an exclusive strategic investment and cooperation agreement with CATL which would see CATL “invest hundreds of millions of dollars” and become a strategic investor. With its global headquarters in #Shanghai, manufacturing and production factories across #China, and a research and development facility in #Munich, #Germany, Autoflight has already made a name for itself with several noteworthy milestones. The company set a record in early 2023 for longest eVTOL flight on a single battery charge of 250.3km and has since carried out the formation flight of three autonomous eVTOL aircraft, completed the world’s first inter-city eVTOL air-taxi flight, and the first long-distance flight of a tonne-class eVTOL. Autoflight currently advertises five different aircraft on its website, including the sleek-looking Prosperity, which boasts a maximum range of 250km and a cruising speed of 200km/h. AutoFlight’s CarryAll cargo aircraft – which boasts similar figures as Prosperity, but swaps capacity for passengers with carrying capacity – obtained type certification (#TC) in March 2024 from the Civil Aviation Administration of China, while the TC process for Propsierty officially got underway in April 2024. The new strategic investment and cooperation agreement with CATL will see the two companies commit to joint research and development of eVTOL aviation batteries, with a focus on enhancing the energy density and performance of eVTOL batteries to support longer flight distances and higher load capacities, while also improving safety and stability. CATL’s investment is expected to be used to enhance the safety and reliability of air logistics while expediting the research and development and airworthiness certification of Prosperity. “Through this in-depth collaboration with CATL, AutoFlight will not only accelerate the development and application of eVTOL battery technology but also elevate the overall technical capabilities of eVTOL aircraft to new heights,” the companies said in a press statement.

CHALLENGE ME ON THIS - eVTOL Aircraft are little more than a wireless extended-range cable car. Electric aircraft in General are not much different. They have a similar dependency on established ground infrastructure to support a specific A-B route. Once you understand this, you can start to effectively plan a realistic business use case for 2-6 seat electric air travel. Some hyper inflated electric aviation startups don't understand this, and they are burning millions in investor money to find it out the hard way. The global market for cable cars and ropeways was estimated to be worth US\$5 billion in 2023, and is projected to grow to US\$9.4 billion by 2030. Imaging 10x ing the range without the cost of erecting the cables. This is big business. But the ground hardware requirements to activate a route are substantial. Few know this as well as Fly On E Sustainable Aviation, who operates both electric and non electric passenger aircraft and charter operations in Australia. Let the debate begin... (AI image obvs)

CATL Invests in eVTOL Startup AutoFlight, Signaling Major Push into Urban Air Mobility Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL), the world’s leading manufacturer of electric vehicle batteries, has announced a significant strategic investment in AutoFlight, a prominent Chinese electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) startup. This investment, valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars, marks CATL’s first major move into the rapidly evolving eVTOL market and highlights its growing commitment to urban air mobility. The partnership between AutoFlight and CATL, formalized through an exclusive strategic investment and cooperation agreement, aims to leverage CATL’s expertise in battery technology to advance eVTOL capabilities. Collaboration will focus on enhancing battery energy density, safety protocols, and overall performance, with the ultimate goal of extending the flight range & increasing the payload capacity of eVTOL aircraft. This partnership underscores CATL’s strong recognition of AutoFlight’s core competitiveness and long-term development potential in the eVTOL sector. Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Shanghai, AutoFlight has been at the forefront of eVTOL development in China. The company has achieved several significant milestones, including setting world records for single battery charge flight distances and completing the world’s first inter-city eVTOL air-taxi flight. AutoFlight’s recent achievements include a successful 25km round-trip test flight across the Yangtze River, demonstrating the viability of its technology for low-altitude travel & sightseeing applications. AutoFlight’s founder & chairman, Tian Yu, along with CATL and investor Team Global, will collaborate to support AutoFlight’s ongoing development. This partnership will involve joint research and development of eVTOL aviation batteries, with a focus on achieving significant breakthroughs in energy density, flight distance, load capacity, safety, and stability. For CATL, this investment represents a strategic diversification beyond its core automotive battery business. The company has been developing its proprietary “Condensed Battery” technology specifically for aviation applications, with the ambitious goal of enabling electric aircraft flights of up to 3,000 km by 2028. This has the potential to transform short-haul air travel. This collaboration between CATL, a global leader in energy storage solutions, and AutoFlight, an innovative eVTOL developer, represents a new urban air mobility solution. As the industry moves towards commercialisation, such partnerships are likely to accelerate the development and deployment of electric air taxis & cargo drones, reshaping the urban transportation landscape in the near future. #eVTOL #UrbanAirMobility #ElectricAviation #CATL #AutoFlight #BatteryTechnology #SustainableAviation #AerospaceInnovation #AirTaxi #ElectricVehicles #NewEnergy #AviationTech #FutureOfFlight https://www.autoflight.com

Evtol was always more BS than facts, too many new OEM's +140 and no one could identify a real market some nuts claim 20,000+ or explain why VTOL (helicopters) have not worked in shuttle operations, or why a VTOL Bell 504 be reengined with an electri engine? and voila a major competitor without $1 billion investment. Textron, Airbus, Embraer were always going to be in the final 10! the rest in Chapter 7 bankruptcy ----------------------- Why is it proving so difficult to get finance for eVTOL companies? Sergio Cecutta, an analyst at SMG Consulting, says it's no coincidence, and there's a simple main answer: there's not enough money sloshing around Europe. "Raising capital in Europe, it's more difficult than raising capital in the US or China," he tells me. After all, American rivals Archer Aviation and Joby Aviation have no trouble raising funds — no wonder when both companies are soaring past test flight and certification milestones, appearing increasingly ready to launch commercial services imminently, though work remains. He points to Volocopter, which this summer failed to get necessary motors delivered to produce its aircraft and finish certification after Rolls-Royce pulled out of the market. That's just life in aerospace, Cecutta suggested, but it can be enough to derail a startup that doesn't have the deep pockets of more established companies. A mockup of the Lilium Jet, all electric vertical take off and landing aircraft was on display ... [+]Houston Chronicle via Getty Images And developing an eVTOL is an expensive prospect. Cecutta says it's likely $1.5bn to $2bn just to get fully certified, and there will be further costs to setting up an operational business. Regulators are often blamed for delays to future technologies, but Cecutta says that's not the case here. Instead, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has done well to get regulations in place ahead of the industry requiring them, says Cecutta. "Now, what happens when the regulations are in place?" he asks. "There's no airplanes to certify." He adds: "The regulator did a great job, but the companies didn't follow through with that." In the meantime, the US continues to lead the eVTOL market, Cecutta says, with leader Joby Aviation already filing for certification in the UK. Plus, he added, China is making "progress at a pace that is unheard of in the West." If the European eVTOL manufacturers do fail to deliver, that could leave Europe as a key battleground for products: the US will be dominated by local firms, says Cecutta, while the lower prices of Chinese models will offer inroads in key markets in Asia and the Middle East, he predicts, saying it's similar to the electric vehicle market. But without a homegrown hero, Europe could be where US and Chinese models truly compete for market share.

I am so sick of hearing helicopters going over my house! I live in North Jersey just outside NYC, and let me tell you, it’s nonstop. But there’s a solution, and it could be here as soon as next year. Electronic Vertical Takeoff and Landing craft (eVTOLs) from Joby Aviation could be in NYC as soon as 2025. In a fascinating talk at the All-In Summit, the founders of Joby and fellow eVTOL startups Archer and Wisk explain how flying cars are closer than we think. As I write this on a Wednesday afternoon, Google is telling me that it will take about 45 minutes to get from downtown Manhattan to Kennedy airport. That’s actually really good — it’s often twice that or more! Joby plans to get that down to just 7 minutes. The cost could be lower than a helicopter since eVTOLs have a much simpler design. And already, helicopter trips on Blade often cost about the same as an Uber to/from JFK. Joby aircraft run at just 45 db, about as loud as a refrigerator. To me, it just sounds like wind. Incredible! I think a lot of us can relate to Joby founder JoeBen Bevirt when he says, “I’ve been dreaming about it since I was a kid.” How Wisk is building autonomous eVTOLs and more at the link below... #startups #venturecapital https://lnkd.in/ew7iC_PH

How Global Trends Make Doroni a Smart Investment As the world continues to evolve, so too does the need for innovative and sustainable transportation solutions. Doroni Aerospace is at the forefront of this revolution, offering a glimpse into the future of urban mobility with its groundbreaking eVTOL aircraft, the H1-X. The Global Shift Is Happening: 🏙️Urbanization: With the rapid growth of cities worldwide, the demand for efficient and sustainable transportation is soaring. 🌱Sustainability Demands: The increasing urgency to reduce carbon emissions has made electric vehicles, including eVTOL aircraft, a compelling alternative to traditional transportation. 🌐Technological Advancements: Breakthroughs in battery technology, electric motors, and autonomous flight systems are making eVTOL a viable and practical reality. Why Invest Now? With only 19 days left to invest, the opportunity to get in early on a groundbreaking transportation solution is closing fast. Visit our StartEngine page https://lnkd.in/eBiexDMg to start your investment. #DoroniAerospace #H1X #EVTOL #FutureOfTransportation #FlyingCar #InvestInTheFuture