United Airlines has announced a $15 million investment in Eve Air Mobility as well as a conditional purchase for 200 four-seat electric aircraft, with options for another 200 aircraft. The first deliveries are expected to begin by 2026. By signing this deal, United became the first major airline to invest in two major electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft ventures. Just last month, United made a $10 million pre-delivery payment to Archer, the California-based eVTOL company, as the deposit for its order of 100 eVTOL aircraft, which was announced in February 2021 as part of a broader collaboration deal.
Michael Leskinen, President of United Airlines Ventures, said: “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. Today, United is making history again, by becoming the first major airline to publicly invest in two eVTOL companies. 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. 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.”
Thrilled about the contract, Andre Stein, co-CEO of Eve said: “United's investment in Eve reinforces the trust in our products and services and strengthens our position in the North American market. I am confident that our UAM agnostic solutions, coupled with the global know-how we have been developing at Eve and Embraer’s heritage, are the best fit for this initiative, giving United’s customers a quick, economical, and sustainable way to get to its hub airports and commute in dense urban environments. It is an unparalleled opportunity to work with United to advance the US UAM ecosystem, and we look forward to it.”
As per the agreement, United and Eve will work on projects including studies on the development, use, and application of Eve’s aircraft and the urban air mobility (UAM) ecosystem. Apart from this, United will also gain access to Embraer’s service centers, parts warehouses, and field service technicians, paving the way for a reliable operation. Upon entry into service, United could have its entire eVTOL fleet serviced by Eve’s agnostic service and support operations.