Passenger eVTOLs (Air Taxis)


Passenger eVTOLs, also known as air taxis, represent the leading edge of urban air mobility. These are electrically powered aircraft with vertical takeoff and landing capability, designed to transport 2–6 passengers across cities and regions. Unlike delivery or inspection drones, passenger eVTOLs are aviation-first platforms, subject to stringent FAA, EASA, and CAAC certification processes. While many prototypes feature autonomous capabilities, most early deployments will use human pilots, with autonomy phased in over time. The goal is safe, quiet, zero-emission transport that bypasses ground congestion.


Segment Taxonomy

Segment Capacity Examples
2-Seat Demonstrators 1 pilot + 1 passenger EHang 216, Volocopter VC200
Urban Air Taxis 2–4 passengers Joby Aviation, Archer Midnight, Lilium Jet
Regional eVTOL Aircraft 4–6 passengers, 100+ km range Vertical Aerospace VX4, Wisk Aero (autonomous 4-seater)

Air Taxi List

Model Passengers Range Status
AIR ONE 2 60 miles preorder
AirCar 2 50 miles
Archer Midnight 4 50 miles development
AutoFlight Prosperity 5 miles
BETA ALIA A250 5 250 miles available
BETA CX300 5 385 miles available
CityAirbus NextGen 4 miles prototype
Doroni H1-X 2 100 miles preorder
EHang EH216-S 2 16 miles available
Eve Air Mobility 4 60 miles development
Jetson ONE 1 20 miles preorder
Joby Aviation S4 4 150 miles development
Lilium Jet 6 175 miles development
Pivotal Helix 1 50 miles preorder
Supernal SA-2 4 40 miles development
Vertical VX4 4 100 miles
Volocopter Volocity 2 22 miles development
Wisk Aero Generation 6 4 miles development
Xpeng AeroHT X2 2 310 miles preorder
Xpeng AeroHT X3 car 2 100 miles concept

Spotlight: Joby Aviation

Joby Aviation is among the most advanced passenger eVTOL developers, targeting FAA certification in the late 2020s. Its 5-seat eVTOL aircraft features six tilting propellers, a projected range of 150 miles, and cruise speed of 200 mph. Joby’s business model integrates both aircraft manufacturing and fleet operation as an air taxi service in partnership with Uber and Delta Airlines.

Spec Value
Passengers 4 + 1 pilot
Range ~150 miles
Cruise Speed ~200 mph
Propulsion Six tilting propellers, all-electric
Certification Target Late 2020s (FAA Part 23)

Technology Stack

Layer Examples Role
Airframe & Propulsion Distributed electric propulsion; tilt-rotor designs Provide vertical lift + efficient forward flight
Energy Systems High-density lithium-ion packs; thermal management Enable 30–60 min flights with quick turnaround charging
Avionics & Autonomy Flight control software, collision avoidance, GPS+vision nav Support piloted today, autonomous in future
Fleet Integration Vertiport scheduling, digital twins, remote ops centers Coordinate multiple eVTOLs for taxi services

Charging & Energy Considerations

Passenger eVTOLs require megawatt-scale DC fast charging to support 10–15 minute turnaround times at vertiports. Battery swaps are explored in some designs but less favored due to safety certification complexity. Renewable-powered vertiports and smart-grid integration are emerging trends, with redundancy built into charging systems for safety-critical passenger operations.

Market Outlook

Rank Adoption Segment Drivers Constraints
1 Urban Air Taxis Congestion relief; electrification synergy FAA/EASA certification; public acceptance
2 Regional eVTOLs Short-haul connectivity; energy efficiency Battery density limits; vertiport infrastructure
3 Autonomous Passenger eVTOLs Lower costs; pilot shortage solution Safety regulation; liability frameworks


Software Solutions