Aerospace technology group Thales has joined Eve Urban Air Mobility’s efforts to develop a four-passenger eVTOL aircraft. The companies announced their partnership on April 20, three weeks before the Embraer subsidiary is due to complete its merger and Wall Street IPO with Zanite Acquisition.
France-based Thales will help to develop avionics for the Eve aircraft, as well as flight controls, electrical systems, and capability in navigation, communications, and connectivity. Since January 2022, Eve and Thales have been working on a series of studies to assess the technical and economic feasibility of an all-electric aircraft, and this process will continue for the rest of 2022.
“Thales is actively engaged in urban air mobility emergence,” said Yannick Assouad, the company's executive vice president for avionics. “We are particularly proud to take a new step in Brazil, joining Eve in a project that can be a game-changer for sustainable urban mobility worldwide. This industry is coming to stay and will bring many advantages to the country, particularly concerning the environment, due to the use of clean energy.”
Brazil-based aircraft manufacturer Embraer will continue to be the majority owner in the Eve Holding entity that will result from the business combination with Zanite. Thales will support the partnership in the country through its Technological Space Center in Sao Jose dos Campos and Sao Bernardo do Campo, as well as backing it with engineering teams from Canada, France, and the U.S.
“This partnership will strengthen Eve’s position as a leading player in the global market and our commitment to delivering an effective and sustainable new mode of urban transportation,” said Eve’s co-CEO, Andre Stein. “Embraer is a leading player in aviation in Brazil and globally and has partnered with Thales for more than 30 years, and now Eve will leverage this partnership, too.”
Thales also has expertise in areas such as air traffic management and cyber security. The company is a leading partner in Airbus's CityAirbus NextGen eVTOL aircraft.
