Vertical Aerospace Selects Evolito for Valo Electric Propulsion

On February 6, 2026, Vertical Aerospace, the UK-based eVTOL developer, announced the selection of Evolito as the supplier of electric propulsion units for its Valo eVTOL aircraft. The partnership marks a significant supply chain milestone for both companies and for the broader advanced air mobility industry as it transitions from prototype development to production-ready configurations.

About the Valo Aircraft

The Valo is Vertical Aerospace's next-generation eVTOL aircraft, designed for urban and regional air mobility operations. The aircraft represents a refined evolution of the company's earlier VX4 prototype and incorporates lessons learned from extensive ground and flight testing.

Key specifications of the Valo include:

• Passengers: 4 + 1 pilot
• Range: 100+ miles (160+ km)
• Cruise Speed: Up to 200 mph (322 km/h)
• Configuration: Tilt-rotor design with wing-borne cruise flight
• Noise: Significantly quieter than conventional helicopters, targeting sub-65 dB at ground level during flyover

The Valo is being developed for certification by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency), with Vertical Aerospace targeting commercial operations in the late 2020s. The company has secured conditional pre-orders from major customers including American Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Avolon, and Marubeni.

Who Is Evolito?

Evolito is a UK-based electric propulsion company that spun out of YASA, the electric motor manufacturer acquired by Mercedes-Benz in 2021. Evolito specializes in high-power-density electric motors and power electronics specifically optimized for aerospace applications.

The company's technology is particularly well-suited to eVTOL requirements because of several key attributes:

Power Density: Evolito's motors deliver among the highest power-to-weight ratios in the industry — a critical factor for aircraft where every kilogram of motor weight reduces available payload or range.

Efficiency: High motor efficiency translates directly to extended range and reduced battery requirements. Even small efficiency gains compound significantly over the course of a flight profile.

Reliability: Aerospace-grade reliability standards require motors that can operate flawlessly across thousands of flight cycles with minimal maintenance. Evolito's heritage in high-performance automotive applications provides a strong foundation.

Thermal Management: Electric motors generate significant heat during high-power operation. Evolito's advanced cooling architectures maintain optimal operating temperatures even during demanding vertical lift phases.

Why This Partnership Matters

The Evolito selection is more than a procurement announcement — it signals the maturation of the eVTOL supply chain from ad-hoc prototype suppliers to production-grade partnerships.

Supply Chain Crystallization: As eVTOL manufacturers move from building one-off prototypes to planning serial production, they must lock in suppliers who can deliver certified components at scale. Evolito's selection for the Valo program represents exactly this transition. The company will need to demonstrate not only technical performance but also manufacturing scalability, quality consistency, and aftermarket support capability.

UK Aerospace Ecosystem: Both Vertical Aerospace and Evolito are UK-based companies, and their partnership strengthens Britain's position in the global eVTOL supply chain. The UK government has identified advanced air mobility as a strategic sector, and domestic supply chain relationships reduce dependency on international suppliers while supporting local jobs and investment.

Propulsion as a Differentiator: In the eVTOL industry, propulsion system performance is a primary competitive differentiator. The efficiency, weight, reliability, and noise characteristics of the electric motors and power electronics directly determine the aircraft's operational capabilities. By partnering with Evolito, Vertical Aerospace is securing access to cutting-edge propulsion technology that could give the Valo a performance edge.

The eVTOL Supply Chain Landscape

The Vertical Aerospace-Evolito partnership exists within a broader reshaping of aerospace supply chains. Traditional aerospace supply chains, dominated by companies like Honeywell, Collins Aerospace, and Safran, are being supplemented — and in some cases displaced — by new entrants specializing in electric and digital technologies.

Key supply chain trends include:

Electric Propulsion: Companies like Evolito, magniX, Pipistrel (now Textron eAviation), and Emrax are competing to supply the motors that will power eVTOL aircraft. Unlike traditional jet engines dominated by three manufacturers (GE, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce), the electric propulsion market is fragmented and rapidly evolving.

Battery Systems: Battery technology remains the single most important enabler — and constraint — for eVTOL performance. While most manufacturers use lithium-ion cells from major suppliers like CATL, Samsung SDI, and Panasonic, the battery management systems and pack architectures are typically developed in-house.

Avionics: Flight control computers, sensor suites, and display systems for eVTOLs require new approaches that blend traditional aviation safety standards with modern computing architectures. Companies like Honeywell and Thales are developing eVTOL-specific avionics platforms.

Composites and Structures: Carbon fiber composite airframes are standard for eVTOL aircraft, requiring specialized manufacturing capabilities. Companies like Toray, Hexcel, and Solvay supply the raw materials, while specialized aerospace manufacturers handle layup and curing.

Vertical Aerospace's Path Forward

Vertical Aerospace has navigated a challenging development path, but the company has made significant progress in recent months:

• Flight Testing: The company's prototype has completed multiple flight test campaigns, including hover and initial transition flight testing
• Manufacturing Planning: Vertical Aerospace is developing its manufacturing strategy for serial production of the Valo
• Order Book: Conditional pre-orders and letters of intent represent potential revenue of several billion dollars, pending certification and delivery
• Partnerships: Beyond Evolito, Vertical Aerospace has partnerships with Honeywell (avionics and flight controls), GKN Aerospace (structures), and Solvay (composites)

The company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: EVTL) and remains one of the most closely watched eVTOL stocks in the market.

Impact on UK Advanced Air Mobility

The UK has been steadily building its position in the global eVTOL ecosystem:

• Vertical Aerospace is the country's leading eVTOL OEM
• Evolito provides world-class electric propulsion technology
• Skyports is a global leader in vertiport infrastructure development
• The CAA is developing progressive regulatory frameworks for urban air mobility
• Government Investment: The UK has allocated significant funding to advanced air mobility research and infrastructure through programs like the Future Flight Challenge

The Vertical Aerospace-Evolito partnership reinforces the UK's potential to become a major hub for eVTOL development, manufacturing, and operations.

Looking Ahead

The selection of a production propulsion supplier is an important step, but significant work remains before the Valo enters commercial service. Key upcoming milestones include:

• Full Transition Flight: Demonstrating the complete flight envelope from vertical takeoff through cruise to vertical landing
• Certification Program: Advancing through the CAA and EASA type certification process
• Production Facility: Establishing manufacturing capabilities for serial production
• Route Development: Working with operators and cities to define initial commercial routes

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