ARCHER PARTNERS WITH FIAT CHRYSLER ON EVTOL AIRCRAFT
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has partnered with Archer, a California-based urban air mobility (UAM) startup, to “accelerate” production of Archer’s all-electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
The agreement, according to the companies, will allow Archer to access FCA’s supply chain and advanced composite material capabilities, along with benefiting from its engineering and design experience. Once it has developed and manufactured eVTOL aircraft, Archer plans to create an “all-electric airline” utilizing that vehicle.
Archer Co-Founder Adam Goldstein said, “We are excited to team up with one of the world’s largest automotive companies on our mission of advancing the benefits of sustainable air mobility. This is a first-of-its-kind deal for one of Detroit’s Big Three automakers in moving into the urban air mobility space. There is now a clear path for Archer to bring mass production to this industry, changing the way people travel in and around cities forever.”
Archer plans to unveil its unnamed eVTOL early this year and expects to begin production in 2023. While the number of passengers the vehicle will carry hasn’t been announced, the aircraft is expected to fly up to 60 miles at 150 mph.
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Story credit: https://doav.virginia.gov/calendar-and-news/news/2021-january/archer-partners-with-fiat-chrysler-on-evtol-aircraft/
Photo credit: Rendering of Archer’s upcoming all-electric eVTOL aircraft, to be unveiled in 2021; http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fcb58960-a652-49b4-b7c4-378a80e39b6b/en