Zag Daily

Archer has unveiled a roadmap for deploying its Midnight eVTOL aircraft called ‘Launch Edition’. Abu Dhabi Aviation (ADA) will be Archer’s first Launch Edition customer, planning to deploy an initial fleet of Archer’s flagship aircraft later this year. “Launch Edition markets are forward-thinking countries eager to explore urban air mobility as an option for their most congested cities,” Archer’s CEO and Founder Adam Goldstein told Zag Daily. #AAM #ZagAir Read more: https://lnkd.in/er_mEXkA

Jorvik Tricycles launches its first hybrid model - a “one-size-fits-all” tricycle for all sizes and abilities. Designed for both on and off-road riding, the JMT-16 comes with three-inch wheels and a foldable handlebar stem and frame. “The Jorvik range, along with the brand-new JMT-16, aims to fill a critical gap in the market by offering a model with increased stability and support, all while maintaining the classic British bicycle style—something that is rarely found in more supportive options,” Jorvik Tricycles Founder James Walker told Zag Daily. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dqvGkkaY

Bristol launches one of the first mobility hubs in the West of England to connect bus passengers with shared micromobility. Located at the University of the West of England, the mobility hub is part of a £3.1 million contract that covers 13 sites across the region, eight of which are currently in delivery phase. “UWE Bristol is the second busiest bus interchange in the West of England with 50 services stopping there every hour during peak times, so it made perfect sense to have one of our first WESTbusStop+ sites there. It’s already proving very popular with students and staff as they are able to hire an e-scooter, lock up their bike, and hop on the bus. It brings together everything into one place which makes it easier for people to get around,” West of England Mayoral Combined Authority Project Manager Amanda Edmondson told Zag Daily. Read more: https://lnkd.in/e7XGNWVC 

Joby Aviation has released its Q4 and full-year 2024 financial results, showing continued progress towards commercial air taxi operations but also revealing deepening financial losses and missed revenue targets. Despite setbacks, Joby remains on track to deliver an aircraft to Dubai by mid-2025, with plans to begin passenger operations by late 2025 or early 2026. “The next 12 months mark a critical inflection point, not just for Joby, but for our entire industry, as we look ahead to carrying our first passengers, and I’m proud that Joby continues to lead the way towards this new era of flight,” said JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby. #AAM #ZagAir Read more: https://lnkd.in/egjrKftC

Why European mobility is failing millions - and how to fix it. Zag takes an exclusive look at EIT Urban Mobility’s new ‘Better Mobility’ report on the inclusivity of sustainable transport across Europe. Based on insights from more than 300 European mobility startups and 100 expert interviews, the report states why a one-size-fits-all approach to transport is not viable and sets out five key actions for inclusive, Better Mobility. “Europe’s current mobility system excludes huge parts of the population. It typically caters for middle-aged men that work nine-to-five, have no caregiving responsibilities, and have no physical impairments,” EIT Urban Mobility Startup Programmes Lead Celeste Reglá Díaz tells Zag Daily. “Mobility needs are far more complex than that.” Read more: https://lnkd.in/egyBA_jr

The Model Zero by Alef, which the company dubs the world’s first ‘true flying car’, has completed a demonstration flight on a public street in California. The newly released video shows the Model Zero lifting off, clearing a parked car, and landing again. “We hope it will be a moment similar to the Wright brothers' Kitty Hawk video, proving to humanity that new transportation is possible,” said Alef CEO Jim Dukhovny.

Patrick Donnelly at Beryl reveals how their #CommunityChampions scheme uses micromobility as a force for good—offering free rides to charities & community groups across England. “As a B-Corp company, we often emphasise social value and its importance in shared transport. But what does social value actually mean in a micromobility context and what does it look like in practice?” Read more: https://lnkd.in/eyUX3sig

London-based Forest signs the Sight Loss Councils’s e-bike charter to help ensure the safety of blind and partially sighted pedestrians around micromobility. The e-bike charter calls on operators, local authorities and governing bodies to commit to six key principles, ranging from dedicated micromobility parking, to maximum weight and speed restrictions. “Ensuring cycling is available to as many people as possible and removing barriers to access is hugely important to Forest,” the startup's Head of Policy Alex Berwin told Zag Daily. “Forest is investing in other vehicle types to cater for a variety of journeys, including those with children and cargo, but there is also a wider conversation needed around how to integrate adapted vehicles for those with disabilities into the shared space.” Read more: https://lnkd.in/eGbTfa2g

Transport for London is turning to predictive data analytics to tackle road safety issues before they lead to serious collisions. In collaboration with mobility intelligence company Vianova I/O, TfL has announced it is shifting from a reactive approach, based on historical crash data, to a proactive model that identifies high-risk locations in real time. “Traditional safety planning relies on police-reported crash data, which is often incomplete or outdated. Our approach integrates connected vehicle insights to flag hazardous locations early, allowing cities to take preemptive action,” Vianova CEO, Thibault Castagne, told Zag Daily. Read more: https://lnkd.in/epn4GM6R

EHang (NASDAQ: EH) has taken a step towards mass eVTOL production by partnering with JAC Motors and Guoxian Holdings to build a high-tech manufacturing facility in Hefei, China. The facility will integrate advanced automation and production processes, allowing for the large-scale manufacturing of intelligent, pilotless eVTOLs.   “By leveraging Hefei’s high-quality resources, this collaboration aims to drive the high-quality growth of emerging industries. We look forward to mass production of low-altitude eVTOLs in Hefei and believe our partnership will achieve outstanding results in this innovation-driven city,” said Xingch Xiang, Chairman and General Manager of JAC Motors. #AAM #ZagAir Read more: https://lnkd.in/dS7ZqJC5