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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)

☁️🚕 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

Joby launches $200M public offering ahead of 2025 commercial eVTOL release Electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle startup Joby Aviation has launched a public offering t

The recent accomplishment of Vertaxi, securing over $28.3 million in a Pre-B funding round, represents more than just another milestone for a Chinese flying car startup. This achievement is emblematic of a larger movement toward reshaping urban mobility, with a surge of capital pouring into the eVTOL sector. The funding round, led by Zhongshan Investment Holdings, highlights that China no longer views flying cars as a distant futuristic concept, but as a critical component of the future of transportation, particularly in its densely populated urban centers. Vertaxi stands uniquely positioned to capitalize on this shift, even as major global players like Boeing, Airbus, Hyundai, and Toyota eye the market. According to Morgan Stanley, the eVTOL market could become a trillion-dollar industry by 2040, and Vertaxi finds itself at the heart of this potential revolution. Further cementing its strategic position, Vertaxi's recent partnership with Fcourier Aviation Technology focusing on drone rescue platforms underscores the multifaceted applications of eVTOL technology. Beyond the urban air taxi market, eVTOL aircraft could revolutionize industries such as disaster response and medical supply delivery, highlighting their versatility. However, the path to making flying cars a practical reality for everyday commuters is fraught with challenges. While the technological advancements are significant, regulatory, infrastructural, and cultural barriers must still be addressed. Although the influx of investor interest signals a strong belief in the sector's potential, turning air taxis into a daily urban fixture requires overcoming these hurdles. Vertaxi’s success is a powerful indicator that the dream of flying cars is not only alive but gaining momentum. Still, whether eVTOL aircraft will soon fill our skies or remain a long-term aspiration hinges on how quickly the industry can navigate these broader challenges. https://lnkd.in/fzpnPPW #urbanmobility #flyingcars #futureoftransport #innovativetech #techstartups #sustainabletransport #eVTOL #electricaircraft #futureofmobility #dronetechnology #sustainabletransport #flyingtaxi #electricaviation #advancedairmobility VERTAXI

This year’s Paris Olympics planned to debut an electric flying taxi service with Germany’s Volocopter showcasing its VoloCity aircraft. However, the project was limited to demonstration flights as Volocopter struggled to secure funding. A failed €100m government loan bid left hopes pinned on China’s Geely, which is in talks to acquire an 85% stake for $95m, potentially moving production to China. Lilium, another German eVTOL company, also faces challenges. After raising €1.5bn and planning to test its innovative e-jet design by 2025, the firm declared insolvency in November due to funding shortfalls. Meanwhile, the UK-based Vertical Aerospace recently achieved its first untethered test flights but is battling financial strains, with founder Stephen Fitzpatrick resisting a $75m bailout that could cost him control. Despite setbacks, Airbus’s CityAirbus NextGen and U.S. firms Joby and Archer remain on track, driven by solid funding. While investors view eVTOLs as the “next Tesla,” challenges like pilot costs and battery replacements must be resolved for profitability. . . . . . . . . . #InitiateMagazine #Initiate #Initiator #eVTOL #FlyingTaxi #Volocopter #Lilium #VerticalAerospace #CityAirbus #ElectricMobility #UrbanAirMobility #AerospaceInnovation #TechFunding #FutureTransport #ParisOlympics #Joby #Archer #Sustainability #AviationTech #ElectricAircraft #FundingChallenges

🚀 Exciting news in the aviation and automotive sectors! 🌟 Toyota has announced a substantial investment of $500 million in Joby Aviation, a leading air-taxi startup specializing in eVTOL (electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing) technology. This strategic funding is set to accelerate Joby's certification efforts, paving the way for the future of urban air mobility. This partnership not only highlights Toyota Motor Corporation's commitment to innovation and sustainability, but also strengthens the manufacturing ties between one of the world's largest automakers and a pioneering aviation startup. As we look towards a future where air travel becomes more accessible and sustainable, collaborations like this are crucial. Kudos to Toyota Motor Corporation and Joby Aviation for pushing the boundaries of technology and shaping the future of transportation! ✈️🌍 VEGA S.r.l. - Hydraulic Cylinders #aviation #avgeek #aviationphotography #aviationlovers #boeing #aircraft #airplane #aviationdaily #planespotting #a #pilot #airbus #plane #aviationgeek #instagramaviation #instaaviation #airport #b #f #pilotlife #flying #instaplane #lovers #flight #planespotter #u #travel #fly #planes #aviationphoto

As the eVTOL startup sector navigates funding challenges, Volocopter has announced it is securing sufficient finances from existing, but undisclosed shareholders to bring its VoloCity to full certification. Although the exact amount being raised remains unspecified, this development has provided some optimism in the market. The eVTOL industry frequently grapples with the substantial investments needed to bring new aircraft to the commercial market, with some analysts suggesting a minimum of $1 billion is required. Companies like Lilium, Vertical Aerospace, and Volocopter are particularly vulnerable, while Archer, Joby Aviation, EHang (NASDAQ: EH), AutoFlight, Eve Air Mobility, and Supernal have relatively stronger backing. Despite the recent news, Volocopter will not meet its initial goal of flying athletes and the public to and from sports venues at the Olympics Paris 2024 this July and August. However, the company remains hopeful about conducting non-passenger flight demonstrations under special EASA - European Union Aviation Safety Agency dispensation. Volocopter's funding issues began in April due to a standoff between the German federal government and Bavarian state politicians over loan guarantees. Meanwhile, Bavaria-based Lilium reported the start of due diligence for new financing sources. Volocopter, based in Baden-Württemberg, is now seeking alternative financial investors. Robin Riedel, co-leader of McKinsey’s Centre for Future Mobility, commented on the sector's "difficult pre-revenue phase" where companies are too large for early venture support but too small to attract private equity money. Riedel suggests that Volocopter might seek new backing from the Saudi Arabian NEOM Regional Development Project, which supported the company's Series E Funding Round in November 2022 alongside Hong Kong's GLy Capital Management Limited. Governments and companies in the Gulf region are increasingly supporting early commercial use cases for eVTOL aircraft. This aligns with their ambition to lead green aviation initiatives. For instance, Abu Dhabi’s Smart & Autonomous Vehicles Industry (SAVI) cluster, located in Masdar City, has signed agreements with 25 international firms, including autonomous vehicle specialists and eVTOL companies. The involvement of entities like Italy’s MANTA Aircraft and France’s Ascendance Technologies in the Middle East may offer them better financing opportunities compared to other startups not engaged in the region. Read more about this development and its implications for the eVTOL industry on our blog. #AvfoilNews #Volocopter #eVTOL #AviationInnovation #UrbanAirMobility #GreenAviation #SustainableTransport #FutureMobility #GulfRegion #NEOM #Paris2024 #FundingNews #Aerospace

New on The Financial Engineer: "Flying Cars and Flying Too Close to the Sun" The eVTOL industry promises a revolution in transportation, but success requires more than just cool technology. In our latest analysis, we explore: The $1.5 trillion market opportunity Why some eVTOL startups are struggling The delicate balance between ambition and practicality Read now: https://lnkd.in/gXn2Tmsv

Toyota-backed startup has flown and landed a flying car in Japan. The Japanese government, in collaboration with several companies including NEC Corporation and SkyDrive, is advancing the development of eVTOL vehicles. They successfully tested its SD-03 flying car prototype, designed to be the world's smallest electric vehicle capable of vertical takeoff and landing. The test flight took place in Japan, with the vehicle circling for about four minutes before landing safely. SkyDrive plans to make the flying car commercially available by 2023, aiming to revolutionize transportation with a focus on safety and convenience in urban skies. Challenges remain, particularly in improving battery technology for longer flights, as other global companies also pursue similar innovations in aerial mobility. #techytuesday #ITMBusinessSchool #FlyingCar #warrenbuffet2024 #Japan #Technology

Focusing on real needs with an aircraft that has the right unit economics rather than some theoretical markets - that’s what we build at Dufour Aerospace 💪