eVTOL Timeline
From concept to commercial reality — the journey of electric air taxis. Explore every major milestone in eVTOL history, from Joby's founding to autonomous air taxi operations at scale.
Track certifications, flight tests, commercial launches, investments, and regulatory breakthroughs that are shaping the future of urban air mobility.
Industry Milestones
Every major milestone in the eVTOL journey — from founding to commercial flight. Filter by category to explore the history and future of electric air taxis.
Joby Aviation Founded
JoeBen Bevirt founds Joby Aviation in Santa Cruz, California, with a vision to build electric aircraft for everyday transportation. The company would go on to become the frontrunner in the eVTOL race.
Joby AviationUber Elevate Whitepaper Published
Uber releases the Elevate whitepaper, introducing the concept of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) to the mainstream. The paper catalyzes global interest and investment in eVTOL aircraft development.
Lilium Achieves First Hover Flight
Lilium successfully completes its first hover flight with its five-seater jet prototype in Germany. This milestone demonstrates the viability of electric jet-powered vertical takeoff technology.
Archer Aviation Founded
Brett Adcock and Adam Goldstein found Archer Aviation in San Francisco. The company quickly attracts major airline partnerships and becomes a leading contender in the eVTOL market.
Archer AviationJoby Completes Full Transition Flight
Joby Aviation achieves a full transition flight, demonstrating vertical takeoff, wing-borne cruise, and vertical landing in a single mission. This marks a critical engineering milestone for the tilt-rotor design.
Joby AviationToyota Invests $394M in Joby
Toyota Motor Corporation makes a landmark $394 million investment in Joby Aviation, the largest single investment in eVTOL at the time. Toyota also embeds manufacturing engineers to accelerate production readiness.
Joby AviationJoby Goes Public via SPAC ($4.5B)
Joby Aviation goes public on the NYSE through a SPAC merger valuing the company at $4.5 billion. This marks the beginning of the eVTOL public market era and attracts widespread investor attention.
Joby AviationArcher Goes Public via SPAC
Archer Aviation completes its SPAC merger and begins trading on the NYSE. The eVTOL boom accelerates as multiple companies access public capital markets to fund development and certification.
Archer AviationWisk Acquires Autonomous Technology
Wisk Aero, backed by Boeing, acquires key autonomous flight technology to advance its self-flying air taxi program. The company positions itself as the leader in autonomous eVTOL operations.
Joby Partners with Delta Air Lines
Joby Aviation announces a partnership with Delta Air Lines for airport-to-city eVTOL service in New York and Los Angeles. Delta invests $60 million as part of the deal.
Joby AviationEHang Receives World's First eVTOL Type Certificate
EHang Holdings receives the world's first eVTOL Type Certificate from CAAC (Civil Aviation Administration of China) for the EH216-S autonomous passenger aircraft. This historic milestone opens the door to commercial operations.
EHangEHang Receives Production Certificate
EHang obtains its Production Certificate from CAAC, enabling mass production of the EH216-S. AutoFlight's Prosperity I also receives CAAC Type Certificate, marking a second eVTOL certification milestone.
EHangFAA Publishes SFAR for Powered-Lift Pilot Rules
The FAA publishes the Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) establishing pilot certification requirements for powered-lift aircraft. This regulatory framework is essential for US eVTOL commercial operations.
Wisk Gen 6 First Flight
Wisk Aero, Boeing's autonomous eVTOL subsidiary, completes the first flight of its Generation 6 air taxi. The autonomous aircraft represents a major step toward self-flying commercial air taxi service.
Lilium Ceases Operations; Volocopter Acquired
Lilium ceases operations after failing to secure additional funding despite raising over $1.5 billion. Separately, Volocopter is acquired by Diamond Aircraft Group, ensuring the continuation of its VoloCity program.
Overair Ceases Operations; Supernal Paused
Overair shuts down after running out of funding for its Butterfly eVTOL aircraft. Hyundai's Supernal program is paused amid restructuring, highlighting the challenges facing the industry's less-funded players.
BETA Technologies IPO
BETA Technologies completes its IPO, becoming the latest eVTOL company to go public. The company's fixed-wing ALIA CX300 design with 250-mile range and UPS cargo partnership attract strong investor interest.
BETA TechnologiesEHang Receives AOC, Begins Commercial Tourist Flights
EHang receives its Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) and launches commercial tourist flights in multiple Chinese cities. Paying passengers can now book autonomous eVTOL sightseeing experiences.
EHangJoby Raises $1.2B; AutoFlight Unveils Matrix V5000
Joby Aviation raises approximately $1.2 billion through convertible notes and share offerings to fund certification and production. AutoFlight unveils the Matrix V5000, a 5-ton eVTOL designed for longer-range urban air mobility.
Joby AviationJoby 65km Flight Record; Archer Serbia Partnership
Joby Aviation sets a 65km coastal flight record demonstrating real-world range capability. Archer Aviation signs a partnership with Serbia for EXPO 2027 operations. Congress introduces a bipartisan eVTOL bill, and AirX orders Eve aircraft for Japan operations.
Joby AviationJoby Dubai Commercial Launch
Joby Aviation is expected to launch the world's first large-scale commercial eVTOL air taxi service in Dubai, operating from the completed Skyports DXV vertiport with airport-to-downtown routes.
Joby AviationFAA eIPP Demonstration Flights in US Cities
The FAA's eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) is expected to enable pre-certification demonstration flights in select US cities. Both Joby and Archer have confirmed participation in the program.
Archer Commercial Service Expected
Archer Aviation is expected to begin commercial eVTOL air taxi service, starting with Abu Dhabi routes and potentially expanding to US markets pending FAA certification of the Midnight aircraft.
Archer AviationJoby US Commercial Operations; Eve Deliveries Begin
Joby Aviation is targeting the launch of US commercial eVTOL operations in major cities following FAA Type Certification. Eve Air Mobility, backed by Embraer, begins aircraft deliveries to operators worldwide.
Joby AviationVertical Aerospace Certification; LA Olympics Air Taxis
Vertical Aerospace targets EASA/CAA certification for the Valo (formerly VX4). Archer Aviation plans to provide air taxi service for the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics, showcasing eVTOL to a global audience.
Vertical AerospaceAutonomous eVTOL Operations at Scale
The industry is expected to transition to autonomous eVTOL operations, dramatically reducing operating costs and enabling mass-market pricing. Per-mile costs could drop to $1–2, making air taxis competitive with ground ride-sharing.
What's Next
The most anticipated eVTOL milestones on the horizon — from commercial launches to certification breakthroughs.
Joby 65km Flight Record; Archer Serbia Partnership
Joby Aviation sets a 65km coastal flight record demonstrating real-world range capability. Archer Aviation signs a partnership with Serbia for EXPO 2027 operations. Congress introduces a bipartisan eVTOL bill, and AirX orders Eve aircraft for Japan operations.
Joby AviationJoby Dubai Commercial Launch
Joby Aviation is expected to launch the world's first large-scale commercial eVTOL air taxi service in Dubai, operating from the completed Skyports DXV vertiport with airport-to-downtown routes.
Joby AviationFAA eIPP Demonstration Flights in US Cities
The FAA's eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) is expected to enable pre-certification demonstration flights in select US cities. Both Joby and Archer have confirmed participation in the program.
Archer Commercial Service Expected
Archer Aviation is expected to begin commercial eVTOL air taxi service, starting with Abu Dhabi routes and potentially expanding to US markets pending FAA certification of the Midnight aircraft.
Archer AviationJoby US Commercial Operations; Eve Deliveries Begin
Joby Aviation is targeting the launch of US commercial eVTOL operations in major cities following FAA Type Certification. Eve Air Mobility, backed by Embraer, begins aircraft deliveries to operators worldwide.
Joby AviationVertical Aerospace Certification; LA Olympics Air Taxis
Vertical Aerospace targets EASA/CAA certification for the Valo (formerly VX4). Archer Aviation plans to provide air taxi service for the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics, showcasing eVTOL to a global audience.
Vertical AerospaceAutonomous eVTOL Operations at Scale
The industry is expected to transition to autonomous eVTOL operations, dramatically reducing operating costs and enabling mass-market pricing. Per-mile costs could drop to $1–2, making air taxis competitive with ground ride-sharing.
Explore More
Dive deeper into the eVTOL industry with our comprehensive guides and trackers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the history of eVTOL aircraft development?
eVTOL development began in earnest around 2009 when Joby Aviation was founded. The concept gained mainstream attention in 2016 when Uber published its Elevate whitepaper on urban air mobility. By 2018, companies like Lilium and Archer were founded and conducting early flight tests. The industry accelerated through 2020-2021 with major investments from Toyota and multiple companies going public via SPACs. In 2023, EHang received the world's first eVTOL Type Certificate, and by 2025-2026, commercial operations began launching globally.
When did the first eVTOL aircraft receive certification?
The first eVTOL aircraft to receive a Type Certificate was the EHang EH216-S, which received certification from China's CAAC (Civil Aviation Administration of China) in October 2023. EHang subsequently received its Production Certificate in April 2024 and Air Operator's Certificate in December 2025, enabling full commercial tourist flight operations in multiple Chinese cities.
When will eVTOL air taxis launch commercially?
Commercial eVTOL air taxi service is already operating in China through EHang since late 2025. Joby Aviation is expected to launch commercial service in Dubai in Q2-Q3 2026, followed by Archer Aviation in late 2026. US commercial operations are expected in 2027 following FAA Type Certification. The FAA eIPP program may enable demonstration flights in US cities as early as summer 2026.
What happened to Lilium and other eVTOL companies that shut down?
Lilium ceased operations in February 2025 after failing to secure additional funding despite raising over $1.5 billion. Overair also ceased operations in March 2025, and Hyundai's Supernal program was paused. These closures highlight the capital-intensive nature of eVTOL development and the importance of strong financial backing. Meanwhile, Volocopter was acquired by Diamond Aircraft Group, ensuring its program's continuation.
What are the next major eVTOL milestones to watch?
The most anticipated upcoming milestones include Joby Aviation's commercial launch in Dubai (Q2-Q3 2026), FAA eIPP demonstration flights in US cities (summer 2026), Archer Aviation's commercial service launch (late 2026), full FAA Type Certifications for Joby and Archer (2026-2027), the 2028 LA Olympics air taxi service, and the beginning of autonomous eVTOL operations at scale by 2030.
How has eVTOL regulation evolved over time?
eVTOL regulation has progressed significantly. The FAA published its SFAR for powered-lift pilot rules in October 2024, establishing the regulatory framework for eVTOL pilot certification. MOSAIC pilot privileges took effect in October 2025, with aircraft certification provisions following in July 2026. Congress introduced the Aviation Innovation and Global Competitiveness Act in February 2026 to further accelerate certification. The White House eIPP program also enables pre-certification demonstrations.
Which eVTOL companies have achieved major flight test milestones?
Joby Aviation completed its full transition flight in 2019 and set a 65km coastal flight record in February 2026. Lilium achieved its first hover flight in 2018. Wisk Aero completed the first flight of its autonomous Gen 6 aircraft in December 2024. AutoFlight's Prosperity I received CAAC Type Certificate in 2024. EHang has been operating commercially since late 2025 with its certified EH216-S aircraft.
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