'Flying Car' Becomes Reality... Production Planned in Brazil in 2026

Announcement of Factory Site Selection and Commercial Product Plan

A startup company in Brazil announced that it plans to launch an electric-powered air taxi capable of vertical takeoff and landing like a helicopter as early as 2026.

Eve Sa products exhibited at the South by Southwest (SXSW) conference in the United States last March. [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 20th (local time), Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer announced in a press release that it has selected Taubate in Sao Paulo state as the site for the first factory to produce its subsidiary Eve's electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOL).

Taubate is a small city with a population of 310,000, located about 140 km from Sao Paulo, the economic capital of Brazil.

Eve also projected that it could release its first commercial product as early as 2026.

In this announcement made to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the birth of Alberto Santos-Dumont, a Brazilian pioneer in aviation alongside the Wright brothers, Francisco Gomes Neto, CEO of Embraer, said, "We believe in the tremendous potential of the global urban air mobility (UAM) market," adding, "After extensive research, we are now ready to establish our first factory."

Electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, also called "flying electric taxis," are expected to be developed to seat 4 to 6 passengers. Initially, a pilot will be on board, but the industry expects that autonomous piloting technology will eventually be installed.

Eve Air Mobility, which is also listed on the New York Stock Exchange, recorded a net loss of $25 million (approximately 32 billion KRW) in the first quarter of this year due to expenses related to eVTOL research and development.

However, a foreign media outlet reported that Embraer has already received orders for 2,850 units from 28 customers. The total amount reaches $1.5 billion (1.9 trillion KRW).

The media reported that the cost per ride is estimated to be around $50 to $100 (63,000 to 127,000 KRW) per person.

Meanwhile, in South Korea, at the UAM demonstration flight event held by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in 2020 near the Mulbit Stage at Yeouido Hangang Park, a two-seater drone taxi from Chinese company EHang performed an unmanned demonstration flight.

Furthermore, in 2025, a "drone taxi" is scheduled to begin trial operations over Seoul. Initially, it will be tested along the Han River between Gimpo Airport and Yeouido, and between Jamsil and Suseo, before the operation routes are finalized.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.