Photo: Archer Aviation
Christmas came early for the Californian Archer Aviation. It's set to receive $1 million by December 31 from its most recent customer, and that's just the first phase of a record-breaking contract worth half a billion dollars.
The Dubai Air Show proved to be one of the most important events for eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) makers this year. Multiple agreements worth millions of dollars are paving the way for future electric air taxi operations, primarily in Dubai but also across the entire UAE.
Archer got the cherry on top. The Santa Clara-based air mobility company scored what is most likely one of this year's biggest eVTOL purchases in the industry. Air Chateau agreed to purchase up to 100 units of the Midnight aircraft, worth approximately $500 million. The UAE private aviation operator will be paying Archer $1 million by the end of this year, followed by $4 million after all the paperwork is finalized in the coming months.
Air Chateau is one of the region's major players when it comes to the emerging AAM (Advanced Air Mobility) industry. It has signed multiple deals for electric air taxis and vertiport operations on its way to becoming one of the main promoters of air taxi commercial services across the UAE. It was also the first private heliport operator in UAE to own and operate a heliport and lounge terminal at the Dubai World Central Al Maktoum International Airport, so it has the expertise to take on this pioneering role in regard to electric air taxis.
Archer, on the other hand, is also determined to make waves in this part of the world. It's not just selling the Midnight eVTOL to local operators but also working on a dedicated Center of Excellence. This new facility is meant to become a partner of local manufacturers and MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul) providers. It's all part of a bold plan to ramp up eVTOL production in Abu Dhabi.
Midnight is the same electric air taxi that convinced United Airlines to become one of the biggest customers and that garnered interest from the US military.
The Californian air mobility company is backed by Stellantis, which was announced as its exclusive contract manufacturer. Last month, Archer broke ground on the construction site in Covington, Georgia, where it's building its manufacturing facility. The factory will initially roll out 650 units per year and eventually grow to an impressive capacity of 2,000 electric aircraft annually.
Midnight is a four-seat eVTOL promising a top speed of 150 mph (241 kph) and a 20-mile (32 km) range on a single charge. Archer expects to launch commercial operations of the Midnight air taxi across the US in 2025 and the UAE by 2026.
Archer got the cherry on top. The Santa Clara-based air mobility company scored what is most likely one of this year's biggest eVTOL purchases in the industry. Air Chateau agreed to purchase up to 100 units of the Midnight aircraft, worth approximately $500 million. The UAE private aviation operator will be paying Archer $1 million by the end of this year, followed by $4 million after all the paperwork is finalized in the coming months.
Air Chateau is one of the region's major players when it comes to the emerging AAM (Advanced Air Mobility) industry. It has signed multiple deals for electric air taxis and vertiport operations on its way to becoming one of the main promoters of air taxi commercial services across the UAE. It was also the first private heliport operator in UAE to own and operate a heliport and lounge terminal at the Dubai World Central Al Maktoum International Airport, so it has the expertise to take on this pioneering role in regard to electric air taxis.
Archer, on the other hand, is also determined to make waves in this part of the world. It's not just selling the Midnight eVTOL to local operators but also working on a dedicated Center of Excellence. This new facility is meant to become a partner of local manufacturers and MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul) providers. It's all part of a bold plan to ramp up eVTOL production in Abu Dhabi.
Midnight is the same electric air taxi that convinced United Airlines to become one of the biggest customers and that garnered interest from the US military.
The Californian air mobility company is backed by Stellantis, which was announced as its exclusive contract manufacturer. Last month, Archer broke ground on the construction site in Covington, Georgia, where it's building its manufacturing facility. The factory will initially roll out 650 units per year and eventually grow to an impressive capacity of 2,000 electric aircraft annually.
Midnight is a four-seat eVTOL promising a top speed of 150 mph (241 kph) and a 20-mile (32 km) range on a single charge. Archer expects to launch commercial operations of the Midnight air taxi across the US in 2025 and the UAE by 2026.
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