Headlines
Embraer's Eve makes maiden flight of 'flying car' prototype
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on December 19, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
Global Banking and Finance Review
Company
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on December 19, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
Eve's flying car prototype completed its first flight, marking a milestone towards certification and urban air mobility, with plans for service entry in 2027.
By Gabriel Araujo
SAO PAULO, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Eve, the electric aircraft unit of Embraer, said on Friday its full-scale "flying car" prototype has completed its first flight, marking a key milestone toward certification.
Eve is among several firms developing battery-powered aircraft capable of vertical take-off and landing for short urban trips, a sector analysts see as crucial for Embraer's future growth.
The company, which has amassed almost 3,000 pre-orders for its electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft ahead of production, expects type certification, first deliveries and entry into service in 2027, a year later than initially planned.
The inaugural flight at Embraer's Gaviao Peixoto plant kicks off Eve's flight test phase, with "hundreds of flights" scheduled next year to support certification.
The test validated aircraft architecture, fly-by-wire controls and integrated propulsion, Eve said. The timing was in line with its previously announced plan to complete the first flight in late 2025 or early 2026.
"The prototype behaved as predicted by our models," said Eve's Chief Technology Officer, Luiz Valentini. "With these data points, we will expand the envelope and progress toward transition to wingborne flight in a disciplined manner."
Eve plans to build six conforming prototypes for the test campaign.
The head of Brazil's civil aviation regulator ANAC told Reuters earlier this year he saw 2027 as the realistic timeframe for certification of the aircraft, which he described as the regulator's top priority.
Eve debuted on the New York Stock Exchange in 2022 and this year raised additional funds from Brazil's state development bank BNDES and Embraer. Other investors include United Airlines, BAE Systems, Nidec, Thales and Acciona.
(Reporting by Gabriel Araujo; Editing by Louise Heavens)
eVTOL stands for electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, designed for urban air mobility, allowing for short trips without the need for traditional runways.
Certification in aviation refers to the process by which an aircraft or its components are verified to meet safety and performance standards set by regulatory authorities.
Pre-orders are orders placed for a product before it is available for sale, allowing customers to reserve items in advance.
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