The top eVTOL and air taxi companies for 2027 are Joby Aviation for its air taxi service plans in Dubai and the US, Archer Aviation for the Midnight aircraft and its UAE launch, Beta Technologies for electric aircraft for cargo, medical and defense use, Wisk for self-flying air taxis, and EHang for the first certified passenger-carrying autonomous eVTOL. Vertical Aerospace, Eve Air Mobility, Electra.aero, Volocopter and Pivotal round out the list.
Electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft promise quiet, short trips over cities and between airports, and several also have defense versions. The sector has thinned out: Lilium went insolvent, Volocopter was rescued by Diamond Aircraft’s owner in 2025, and Hyundai paused Supernal. The companies below are the ones with flying aircraft, funding and a believable path to service.
1. Joby Aviation — The Air Taxi Leader With A Dubai Head Start
Joby has flown its piloted four-passenger eVTOL for years and holds a six-year exclusive deal with Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority to run air taxis there, with Uber handling bookings.
It is also deep into FAA type certification, has tested a hybrid-electric version and bought Blade’s passenger business to gain routes and customers in the US.
2. Archer Aviation — Midnight, Abu Dhabi And A Defense Partnership
Archer is developing the Midnight piloted air taxi and plans its first commercial service in Abu Dhabi, with United Airlines as a US partner.
It is working with Anduril on a hybrid aircraft for defense, which gives it a second market beyond air taxis.
3. Beta Technologies — Practical Electric Aircraft And A Charging Network
Beta builds the ALIA CX300 conventional take-off electric aircraft and the ALIA A250 eVTOL, aimed first at cargo, medical logistics and military missions.
It also runs a growing network of electric aircraft chargers and supplies electric motors to other aircraft makers.
4. Wisk Aero — Boeing-Backed Self-Flying Air Taxis
Wisk, owned by Boeing, is developing a four-seat air taxi designed to fly without a pilot on board, supervised from the ground.
It is taking the longer path to certification, but autonomy could make air taxis cheaper to run at scale.
5. EHang — The First Certified Autonomous Passenger eVTOL
EHang’s EH216-S is a two-seat autonomous eVTOL that has received type, production and air operator certificates from China’s aviation regulator.
It runs sightseeing flights in several Chinese cities and is the furthest along of any company in carrying paying passengers without a pilot.
Vertical Aerospace is flight testing its VX4 piloted eVTOL and working toward certification with the UK and European regulators.
It is also developing a hybrid-electric version for longer range and defense uses.
7. Eve Air Mobility — Embraer’s Air Taxi And Air Traffic Software
Eve, backed by Embraer, is building a piloted eVTOL with one of the largest pre-order books in the sector and is working toward certification in Brazil.
It also sells Vector, software for managing urban air traffic, which gives it revenue beyond aircraft.
8. Electra.aero — Hybrid-Electric Short Take-Off Instead Of VTOL
Electra is developing the EL9, a nine-passenger hybrid-electric aircraft that uses blown-lift wings to take off and land in very short distances.
Its approach avoids the cost and certification hurdles of full VTOL while still using small airfields, and it has military interest as well as airline orders.
9. Volocopter — A Multicopter Pioneer Under New Ownership
Volocopter pioneered the multicopter air taxi with the two-seat VoloCity and has flown demonstrations around the world.
After insolvency, it was acquired by the Chinese owner of Diamond Aircraft in 2025 and is restarting certification work under Diamond.
Pivotal builds the Helix and BlackFly single-seat eVTOLs, which fly under US ultralight rules and do not need a pilot license.
It also offers defense versions for logistics and special operations, an unusual niche in the sector.
How We Chose These Companies
We focused on companies with flying aircraft and a path to service and weighed:
Flight test progress and certification status
Funding and financial staying power
Launch markets and operating partners
Manufacturing readiness
Defense and cargo applications alongside passenger service
How To Evaluate An eVTOL Company
How far along is certification?
Type certification with the FAA, EASA or another regulator is the biggest hurdle. Look at completed test phases, not announced dates.
Does it have enough cash?
Certification and production cost billions, and several well-known eVTOL companies have failed. Check cash runway and strategic backers.
Where will it launch first?
Dubai, Abu Dhabi and China are moving faster than the US and Europe. Early launch markets give real operating data.
Is there a second market?
Cargo, medical logistics and defense contracts can keep a company going while passenger service ramps up.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an eVTOL?
An eVTOL is an electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft. Most use several electric rotors to take off like a helicopter and then fly on wings or rotors.
When will air taxis start flying passengers?
EHang already flies passengers in China. Joby and Archer are preparing commercial service in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, with US service expected after FAA type certification.
Which eVTOL company is the leader?
Joby Aviation is widely seen as the leader among Western air taxi developers, with Archer close behind. EHang leads in autonomous passenger flights in China.
What happened to Lilium and Volocopter?
Lilium ran out of money and became insolvent. Volocopter also became insolvent but was bought by Diamond Aircraft’s owner in 2025 and continues development.
Are eVTOLs used by the military?
Yes. The US Air Force has tested Joby and Beta aircraft, Archer is working with Anduril on a defense aircraft, and Pivotal sells defense versions of its eVTOLs.
Conclusion
Joby and Archer are closest to Western air taxi service, EHang already flies autonomous passengers in China, and Beta stands out for cargo, medical and defense work. Wisk, Vertical, Eve, Electra, Volocopter and Pivotal each offer a different bet on how advanced air mobility will grow.
