Stellantis Will Build Electric Flying Taxis
This page is translated from the original post "Stellantis va construire des taxis volants électriques" in French.
- 09/01/2023 12:30
In addition to betting on electric cars, Stellantis is integrating eVTOL production, with the electric flying taxi Archer Midnight.
At CES 2023, the focus was on technology for Stellantis. The automotive group not only revealed the main outlines of the future of electric cars. It also presented the Peugeot Inception concept or the prototype of the next RAM Revolution pickup. It is also focusing on flying devices, with the American company Archer, similar to Mercedes and Geely with Volocopter.
When will it weigh?
As early as February 2021, Stellantis supported the eVTOL project (small electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft). The partnership then planned for production, supply, and battery provision. “We have been working with Archer for two years,” said Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis, “I keep being impressed by their inventiveness and determination to succeed.”
Specifically, Stellantis is investing 150 million euros over the next two years, contingent on results. The manufacturer also buys shares in Archer and aims to “position itself as a major investor in Archer for the long term.” The CEO adds that this investment is “proof that Stellantis continues to push boundaries to offer everyone eco-friendly mobility solutions, on the road and in the air.”
Archer, an eVTOL with 160 km range
The collaboration is entering a new phase, as Stellantis will officially produce the Archer Midnight eVTOL. The automotive group will be the exclusive manufacturer, at the Covington plant in Georgia, USA, starting in 2024. However, flights are expected to begin only in 2025, within the fleet of United Airlines.
This eVTOL has a range of 160 kilometers on a full charge, capable of carrying 5 people, including the pilot. It can also support up to 450 kg of payload and fly at 200 km/h. However, the goal is to cover 30-kilometer trips, with the aircraft needing only 10 minutes to recharge between them. As for the cost of a ride on the Archer Midnight, it is expected to be comparable to a VTC or a traditional taxi.
Also read: Ryse Aero: the eVTOL for farmers demonstrated at CES 2023
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