Flying Car Startup Funding Tops $1B; Backed by Boeing, United Airlines

Archer Aviation already received a special air worthiness certificate to test its electric air vehicle

Chuck Martin, Editorial Director AI & IoT

August 14, 2023

2 Min Read
Archer is testing the air-worthiness of its electric air vehicle
Getty

Archer Aviation has received additional funding of $215 million, bringing the total investment in its electric aerial vehicle (EAV) development to $1.1 billion.

The new funding comes from investors including Boeing, United Airlines, Stellantis and Ark Investment Management.

In addition to the funding, Boeing, Archer and Wisk agreed to collaborate on autonomous flight and settle pending litigation.

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Early last year, Boeing invested $450 million in Wisk and recently acquired the startup, making it a Boeing subsidiary.

The Wisk eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) craft, which seats four people, recently conducted a demonstration flight of its fully, self-flying craft.

The demonstration flight transitioned from hovering to wing-borne flight multiple times and included 360-degree turns in place.

Archer intends to use its new funding for working capital and general corporate purposes, including the continued development of its aircraft and related technology, as well as to build manufacturing and test facilities.

“Over the last quarter, we’ve seen the U.S. government make an unwavering commitment that America will lead the way in commercializing eVTOL aircraft, the FAA validated the timeline for eVTOL aircraft to begin operations in the U.S. in 2025, and leaders in the mobility industry, Stellantis, United Airlines and Boeing, have come together to invest in Archer’s future,” said Adam Goldstein, Archer founder and CEO. “The pace at which our industry is advancing is unprecedented. Our team’s hard work and dedication have brought us to this exciting moment, and we can't wait to see Midnight soar.”

Related:Another Flying Car Approved for Test Flights by FAA

Over the long term, Archer sees autonomy as one of the keys to achieving scale across all advanced air mobility (AAM) applications, ranging from cargo to passengers.

Archer focuses its in-house research and development on the key enabling technologies not available from existing aerospace suppliers.

The Archer Midnight aircraft also received its Special Airworthiness Certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), allowing it to begin flight test operations, expected to start within weeks.

The FAA recently began issuing certifications for several companies to start testing their EAVs.

Archer recently signed a $142 million deal with the Department of Defense to deliver the Midnight aircraft to the U.S. Air Force later this year or early next year.

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About the Author

Chuck Martin

Editorial Director AI & IoT

Chuck Martin, author of "Flying Vehicles," New York Times Business Bestselling author and futurist, is Editorial Director at Informa Tech, home of AI Business, IoT World Today and Enter Quantum. Martin has been a leader in emerging digital technologies for more than two decades. He is considered one of the foremost emerging technology experts in the world and his latest book title "Flying Vehicles" (The Emergence of Personal Air Travel, Flying Cars, and Air Taxis) followed "Digital Transformation 3.0" (The New Business-to-Consumer Connections of The Internet of Things).  He hosts a worldwide podcast titled “The Voices of the Internet of Things with Chuck Martin,” where he converses with top executives from the companies driving the adoption of emerging technology.

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