United Airlines has announced a $15 million investment in flying taxis through Eve Air Mobility, as per TravelPulse.
The airline also announced a conditional purchase agreement for 200 four-seat electric aircraft plus 200 options, with the first deliveries expected as early as 2026. The California-based eVTOL startup received a $10 million down payment from United last month in exchange for 100 aircraft.
Under the agreement with Eve Air Mobility, United plans to work on the next eVTOLs projects, including exploring the development, operation and use of Eve’s aircraft and the urban air mobility (UAM) ecosystem.
“United has made early investments in several cutting-edge technologies at all levels of the supply chain, staking out our position as a leader in aviation sustainability and innovation,” United Airlines Ventures Michael Leskinen said.
“United is making history again by becoming the first major airline to publicly invest in two eVTOL companies,” Leskinen continued. “Our agreement with Eve highlights our confidence in the urban air mobility market and serves as another important benchmark toward our goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050 – without using traditional offsets.”
Electric motors are used in eVTOL aircraft instead of conventional internal combustion engines, allowing for carbon-free travel and the usage of the aircraft as air cabs in metropolitan areas. Eve’s design uses conventional fixed wings, rotors and thrusters to create a lift-plus-cruise design that prioritizes safety, effectiveness, reliability and certifiability.
The vehicle is capable of reducing noise pollution by 90% compared to conventional aircraft with a 60-mile range. In addition, Eve is developing a fresh approach to air traffic control to ensure the safe expansion of the UAM sector.
“Together, we believe our suite of clean energy technologies will revolutionize air travel as we know it and serve as the catalyst for the aviation industry to move toward a sustainable future,” Leskinen said.