Sports car icon Porsche will help Eve bring its four-passenger eVTOL aircraft to what is expected to be a mass market for urban air mobility (UAM). Under an agreement announced this week, the German group’s Porsche Consulting division will help Eve to develop a supply chain for high-volume rates of production, as well as a strategy for global manufacturing and logistics for the vehicle, which is expected to achieve type certification in 2025.
Eve—which, following its recent initial public offering is still majority-owned by Brazilian aircraft maker Embraer—is one of several eVTOL pioneers turning to the automotive sector for help. For instance, Joby is backed by Japan’s Toyota, and its rival Archer Aviation has backing from the Stellantis group (formerly Fiat Chrysler).
The master services agreement between Porsche and Eve covers studies in industrial operations, logistics, supply-chain management, and part distribution. Even though Embraer itself has a global supply-chain and product-support network for its airliners and business aircraft, Eve says it requires “an unprecedented approach optimized for efficiency, productivity, and safety.”
The companies say they will look at how the production of eVTOL aircraft could be scaled up and use a distributed production network as the UAM sector expands to meet demand anticipated in cities around the world.
“We share the same values, and with industry-leading know-how, we will be able to question and challenge all existing concepts for logistics and manufacturing,” said Porsche Consulting CEO Rudy Leutz. “We will redesign the industrialization concept for the new aircraft based on the highest levels of efficiency, quality, safety, and customer-centricity.”
Embraer has previously co-marketed its Phenom 300 light jet with Porsche cars. The Porsche Design Studio has been involved in work on interior styling for several private jets.
Last November, Eve announced plans for its eVTOL aircraft to be offered in branding honoring Formula 1 race car driver Ayrton Senna.
