Top eVTOL Companies: Who Is Building the Future?
From Silicon Valley startups to global aviation giants, dozens of companies are racing to build electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. Explore the complete directory of eVTOL manufacturers, operators, and aviation partners shaping urban air mobility.
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Leading Manufacturers
These are the companies building the eVTOL aircraft that will fly passengers in the coming years. Each is at a different stage of development, certification, and commercialization.
| Company | HQ | Aircraft | Range | Capacity | Certification | Funding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joby Aviation | Santa Cruz, CA, USA | Joby S4 | 150 mi | 4+1 pilot | 2025 (FAA) | $2.2B+ |
| Archer Aviation | San Jose, CA, USA | Midnight | 60 mi | 4+1 pilot | 2025–2026 | $1.5B+ |
| EHang | Guangzhou, China | EH216-S | 22 mi | 2 pax (autonomous) | Certified (CAAC, 2024) | $680M+ |
| Wisk Aero (Boeing) | Mountain View, CA, USA | Wisk Cora / Gen 6 | 25+ mi | 4 pax (autonomous) | 2028+ | Boeing subsidiary |
| Eve Air Mobility (Embraer) | Melbourne, FL, USA | Eve eVTOL | 60 mi | 4+1 pilot | 2026–2027 | $500M+ |
| Volocopter | Bruchsal, Germany | VoloCity | 22 mi | 2 pax | 2026 (EASA) | $700M+ |
| Vertical Aerospace | Bristol, UK | VX4 | 100 mi | 4+1 pilot | 2026–2027 | $450M+ |
| BETA Technologies | Burlington, VT, USA | ALIA | 250 mi | 5+1 pilot | 2026–2027 | $800M+ |
| AutoFlight | Shanghai, China | Prosperity I | 155 mi | 5 pax | 2026–2027 | $300M+ |
| SkyDrive | Toyota, Aichi, Japan | SD-05 | 5 mi | 2 pax | 2025 (Japan CAB) | $200M+ |
Joby Aviation
Furthest in FAA certification; Toyota backed; Dubai launch Q2 2026
Archer Aviation
United Airlines partnership; optimized for high-frequency urban routes
EHang
First certified autonomous eVTOL; commercial operations in China
Wisk Aero (Boeing)
Fully autonomous from day one; Boeing engineering and certification support
Established Aviation Partners
The world largest aerospace and automotive companies are investing heavily in eVTOL, bringing decades of engineering, manufacturing, and certification expertise to the industry.
Boeing
Parent of Wisk Aero
Fully owns Wisk Aero developing autonomous eVTOL; provides engineering, certification, and manufacturing expertise; invested in vertiport companies
Airbus
CityAirbus NextGen developer
Developing CityAirbus NextGen tilting-rotor eVTOL; leveraging commercial aviation certification expertise; building UTM (UAM traffic management) systems
Embraer
Parent of Eve Air Mobility
Spun off Eve Air Mobility as publicly traded subsidiary; providing manufacturing facilities, supply chain, and certification expertise from decades of aircraft production
Hyundai / Supernal
eVTOL division (paused)
Created Supernal division for SA-2 eVTOL; program paused for strategic review; automotive manufacturing scale could enable low-cost mass production if restarted
Honda
Honda eVTOL program
Developing hybrid-electric eVTOL with gas turbine range extender for 250+ mile range; targeting intercity routes rather than urban air taxi; expected certification late 2020s
Operator & Service Companies
These companies will operate eVTOL fleets and provide air taxi services to passengers. Some are transitioning from existing helicopter operations, while others are building new transportation networks.
Blade Air Mobility
BLDECurrent helicopter operator transitioning to eVTOL fleet; asset-light model operating aircraft from multiple OEMs; established routes and customer base in New York, Miami, Los Angeles, and India
Bristow Group
VTOLWorld largest helicopter operator; partnered with multiple eVTOL manufacturers; plans to convert offshore and urban helicopter routes to eVTOL operations; extensive pilot training infrastructure
United Airlines (partnerships)
UALInvested $1 billion in Archer Aviation; plans to offer eVTOL airport transfers for connecting passengers; committed to purchasing 200+ Archer Midnight aircraft for urban routes
Companies That Ceased Operations
Not every eVTOL company will succeed. These companies ceased operations, providing important lessons about the challenges of bringing new aircraft to market.
Lilium
Ceased February 2025Failed to secure additional funding after burning through $1.5B+. Despite developing promising 7-seat electric jet technology with 186-mile range, the company could not bridge the gap to certification and commercial operations. Assets acquired by various parties.
Overair
Ceased 2025Ran out of funding for their Butterfly eVTOL program. The company had developed a novel optimized electric tiltrotor design but could not secure sufficient investment to continue development through certification.
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Search Our Full Company Directory →Industry Landscape
The eVTOL industry is a complex ecosystem of manufacturers, operators, infrastructure developers, technology providers, and regulators all working together to bring urban air mobility to life.
Market Dynamics
The eVTOL industry is evolving rapidly with over 300 development programs worldwide, though only 20 to 30 have the funding, technology, and regulatory engagement to reach commercialization. The industry is expected to undergo significant consolidation over the next decade, similar to what happened in the early automotive and airline industries. Companies with strong cash positions, strategic partnerships, and clear paths to certification are best positioned to survive.
Key differentiators include aircraft design philosophy such as multicopter versus tilt-rotor versus lift-plus-cruise, target market segments from urban air taxi to regional transport to cargo, and go-to-market strategy including owned fleet versus manufacturing for others. The companies that will ultimately succeed are those that can navigate the complex intersection of cutting-edge technology, rigorous safety certification, massive capital requirements, and real-world customer demand.
Regional Competition
The eVTOL race is truly global. The United States leads in total investment and number of companies, with Joby, Archer, Wisk, BETA, and Eve all headquartered in the U.S. China is advancing rapidly with EHang already certified and AutoFlight conducting long-range test flights. Europe has strong contenders in Volocopter, Vertical Aerospace, and Airbus CityAirbus NextGen. Japan is pushing SkyDrive for the Osaka Expo and beyond.
Each region has different regulatory approaches, with China CAAC moving fastest on certification, the FAA establishing the most comprehensive framework, and EASA creating dedicated VTOL certification categories. The Middle East, particularly Dubai and Abu Dhabi, is positioning itself as the first region for commercial eVTOL services through government partnerships with Joby and Archer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about eVTOL companies and the electric aircraft industry.
Which eVTOL company is the most advanced?
EHang is the most advanced in terms of certification and commercial operations, having received the world first eVTOL type certificate from China CAAC in 2024 and conducting commercial flights. In the United States, Joby Aviation is the furthest along in FAA certification, having completed extensive flight testing and expects certification in 2025. Archer Aviation is close behind Joby in the FAA process. Each company is at different stages depending on the regulatory authority and market they are targeting.
How many eVTOL companies are there worldwide?
There are over 300 eVTOL development programs worldwide as of 2026, though only about 20 to 30 are considered serious contenders with significant funding, advanced prototypes, and active certification programs. The industry is expected to consolidate significantly over the next 5 to 10 years, similar to how the early automobile industry had hundreds of manufacturers before consolidating to a handful of major players. The companies listed on this page represent the most well-funded and advanced programs.
Which eVTOL company has the most funding?
Joby Aviation leads in total funding with over $2.2 billion raised through its IPO and subsequent investments, including over $890 million from Toyota Motor Corporation. Archer Aviation has raised approximately $1.5 billion including its United Airlines partnership commitment. BETA Technologies raised over $800 million including their November 2025 IPO. Volocopter has raised approximately $700 million from investors including Geely, Intel Capital, and the government of Singapore.
What is the difference between eVTOL manufacturers and operators?
eVTOL manufacturers like Joby Aviation, Archer Aviation, and EHang design and build the aircraft. Operators like Blade Air Mobility and Bristow Group run the transportation service, managing routes, pilots, maintenance, and customer experience. Some manufacturers plan to also be operators, similar to how Tesla both manufactures cars and runs the Supercharger network. Operators like Blade may purchase or lease aircraft from multiple manufacturers, similar to how airlines operate Boeing and Airbus aircraft.
Will traditional aviation companies enter the eVTOL market?
Many already have. Boeing fully owns Wisk Aero, Embraer created Eve Air Mobility, Airbus is developing CityAirbus NextGen, Hyundai created Supernal, and Honda is developing a hybrid-electric eVTOL. These established aviation companies bring decades of certification experience, manufacturing infrastructure, supply chain relationships, and customer trust. Their entry validates the eVTOL market and may accelerate adoption, though they also bring competitive pressure to pure-play startups.
What happened to Lilium and could other companies fail too?
Lilium ceased operations in February 2025 after failing to secure additional funding despite raising over $1.5 billion. The company had developed promising jet-based eVTOL technology but could not bridge the funding gap to reach certification and commercialization. Yes, other eVTOL companies could face similar challenges. The key factors to watch are cash runway relative to certification timeline, strength of partnerships and order books, and access to additional capital. Companies with shorter paths to revenue generation are generally better positioned to survive.
Which eVTOL companies will launch first in the United States?
Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation are the leading candidates for first U.S. commercial eVTOL operations. Joby plans to launch in the Los Angeles market with airport-to-downtown service. Archer Aviation plans to launch in New York and Los Angeles with United Airlines partnership routes. BETA Technologies is targeting cargo and medical transport applications initially. Blade Air Mobility plans to transition its existing helicopter routes to eVTOL aircraft as they become available. First U.S. commercial passenger operations are expected between 2026 and 2027.
How do Chinese eVTOL companies compare to Western companies?
Chinese companies like EHang and AutoFlight have some advantages including a more streamlined certification process through CAAC, strong government support for the industry, and large domestic markets. EHang is the only company globally with a certified and commercially operating eVTOL. AutoFlight has demonstrated impressive range performance. However, Western companies like Joby and Archer are developing aircraft with larger passenger capacity and longer range, and benefit from access to Western capital markets and airline partnerships. Both markets are likely to develop somewhat independently initially.
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