Forget gridlock. Forget long airport lines. Imagine “flying cars” zipping to and fro, transporting passengers safely, quickly, and without emissions. This future isn’t just in the Jetsons. New eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft will change urban mobility. Often dubbed “flying cars,” eVTOL vehicles take off vertically, like helicopters. But unlike helicopters, eVTOLs use quiet, electric propulsion suitable for urban settings. In this article, we’ll look at the top flying car stocks, tiered by pure-play exposure. Our ranking methodology considers business model, revenue concentration, and vertical integration.
Tier 1: Pure-Play Flying Car Stocks
These companies have placed their entire bet on the future of flying cars. Their entire business is built around designing, manufacturing, and eventually operating eVTOLs. Investors who want the full upside – and risk – can consider these flying car stocks.
Archer Aviation (ACHR)
Archer Aviation (ACHR) offers a rapid growth strategy, distinct innovations, and a hybrid business model for both manufacturing and air taxi services.
Archer has a two-pronged plan for the flying car market: they’re building the vehicles and running their own air taxi service, “Archer Air”. This means early income from selling flying cars in the short-term, plus profits down the line from their own passenger network.
Archer’s flying car, Midnight, is a sleek, high-performance machine that runs on clean energy. Their secret sauce is in their unique electric engine system. It allows Midnight to take off and land vertically like a helicopter, but then fly like a plane. Archer has also made key design choices to simplify manufacturing and make it easier to pass safety certifications.
In fact, Archer is now one of only two companies in the world to receive Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) from the FAA for their flying car design. They’ve also teamed up with car giant Stellantis to scale production without heavy upfront capital.
Joby Aviation (JOBY)
Joby Aviation (JOBY) has jumped out to an early lead with revenue, strong IP, and vertical integration in the flying car supply chain.
Joby Aviation is a vertically integrated flying car maker. They’re not just building these aircraft, they’re planning to run their own air taxi service. This strategy will give them complete control over the passenger experience, leading to more upside in the long run.
Their flying car is designed for the real world: fast (up to 200 mph), quiet, and emissions-free. With six tilting electric motors and a 150-mile range, it’ll whisk passengers between city centers and remote rural areas. Joby has also developed powerful batteries that charge faster and hold more juice. The company also developed their own flight control software and noise reduction tech. These innovations allow Joby’s S4 craft to address the main concern of flying taxis — noise pollution.
The proof is in the progress. Joby is far along in FAA certification, they’re building a production facility capable of 500 units/year, and their test flights passed. Plus, they’ve partnered with heavyweights like Toyota, Uber, and key players in Dubai, Japan, and South Korea to prepare for a global flying car network.
Vertical Aerospace (EVTL)
Vertical Aerospace (EVTL) is a focused bet on the European flying car market, with a strong order book and governmental support.
Vertical Aerospace is aiming to be Europe’s top flying car company, and they’re focused on making them clean and quiet. Their main model, the VX4, is meant to carry four passengers plus a pilot over 100 miles emissions-free. It’s also whisper-quiet compared to helicopters – a must if these are going to be buzzing around cities. Big names like Virgin Atlantic, American Airlines, and Japan’s JAL have already put in pre-orders, to the tune of 1400+ in total.
The UK government has also given Vertical Aerospace a grant to keep improving their propellers. The company also has agreements to integrate with Heathrow Airport, one of Europe’s busiest hubs. These partnerships make EVTL a focused way to bet on Europe’s flying car market.
Eve Urban Air Mobility (EVEX)
Eve Air Mobility (EVEX) is a more diversified investment on both flying car development and services for the broader air taxi ecosystem.
Eve Air Mobility, a spinoff of aircraft giant Embraer, isn’t just building flying cars. They’re also pursuing the whole support system around them. This includes maintenance, ‘air traffic control’ software for flying cars, and more. This smart strategy could lead to many paths to grow in the long run.
Eve is taking a unique approach to get their flying cars certified quickly and safely. They’re leveraging the expertise of top partners like Nidec (for motors), BAE (for energy systems), and DUC Helices (for propellers). Eve has also developed its own software to manage flying car traffic, with successful real-world trials in the UK.
The proof is in the orders: Eve already has a huge backlog of 2,850 flying car orders from 29 customers across 13 countries. Plus, they’ve pre-sold $660 million in service contracts to provide maintenance, repairs, and training.
Tier 2: eVTOL with Other Business Lines
Companies in this tier are actively entering the flying car market, but they maintain established revenue streams in other areas. They could be traditional drone operators expanding into eVTOLs or companies with other aviation-related business lines. Investors who want a more balanced exposure can consider these flying car stocks.
Blade Air Mobility (BLDE)
Blade Air Mobility (BLDE) gives investors a lower risk option by focusing on the passenger experience side of the flying car market, leveraging its existing helicopter clientele.
Blade is taking a unique approach to the flying car market. Instead of building their own vehicles, they’re partnering with the companies who do. Blade gets to focus on what they do best – the passenger experience. This keeps their costs down and allows them to swap in the best eVTOLs as they become available.
Blade already offers a range of helicopter services, like airport transfers, city-to-city shuttles, and even chartered flights. The company is also the top air transporter of medical organs in the US. This gives them real-world experience and a strong reputation, as well as an existing clientele. Blade is in position to start leasing flying cars and offering flights as soon as they’re ready.
EHang Holdings (EH)
EHang Holdings (EH) is a niche investment for those interested in its autonomous flying cars and exposure to the flying car market in China.
EHang is taking the flying car concept in a bold direction: they’re building self-flying vehicles. Imagine hopping in, telling it where to go, and relaxing while it handles the ‘piloting’. These autonomous aerial vehicles (AAVs) can be used for daily commutes, sightseeing tours, and even package deliveries.
EHang already holds the world’s first official permit for a passenger-carrying flying car in China. Their flagship model, the EH216, won’t need a pilot, which keeps costs down and reduces the risk of human error. It’s also small and lightweight enough to weave between city skyscrapers. EHang is also investing in solid-state batteries through a partnership with a company called Inx. These advanced batteries will have longer range and shorter charge times than traditional liquid batteries.
Lilium (LILM)
Lilium (LILM) is a high-risk, high-reward play due to its unique eVTOL “jet” design, which promises higher speeds and longer ranges, but also more complexity.
Lilium is building a flying car like nothing else out there – think of it as a sleek, futuristic jet. Instead of the big propellers on other flying car designs, Lilium’s design uses 36 small electric jets hidden inside the wings. This makes them quieter, safer, and lets the vehicle take up less space while still carrying a large payload.
Most other flying car designs also need to switch modes between hovering and regular flight, but Lilium’s design does it all seamlessly. This should theoretically make it more efficient and powerful in the air. The tech is still new, but the fact that they already have orders for over 600 of their flying cars shows that there’s a lot of excitement around what they’re doing.
Volatus Aerospace (VLTTF)
Volatus Aerospace (VLTTF) is a bet on an established drone company seeking to break into the flying car infrastructure market.
Volatus Aerospace builds drones that inspect buildings, deliver packages, and collect data. Now, they’re setting their sights on the flying car space by designing the infrastructure these vehicles will need. Think of their work as building the ‘airports’ where flying cars will take off and land. These ‘vertiports’ will be affordable ($500,000 per port) and easy to set up (built in under four weeks). More importantly, they can be expanded as more flying cars take to the skies.
Volatus comes in with the advance of aerial transport experience. They already understand how to work with the FAA to fly drones safely. That expertise will be crucial as flying cars face similar regulations. This two-pronged approach – drones now, flying car infrastructure in the future – gives Volatus a unique angle.
Tier 3: Companies Investing in Flying Cars
These major players aren’t building their own flying cars, but they see the potential. Through investments, partnerships, or technology development, they’re strategically securing a stake in this potentially transformative industry. Investors who only want to dip their toes can consider these flying car stocks.
Boeing (BA)
Boeing (BA) offers indirect access to the flying car market, as their investment role allows them to capture some of the industry’s growth without the risks of pure-play developers.
Boeing, the aerospace giant, is also looking at the flying car market. Their biggest move so far is investing in Wisk Aero, a company founded in partnership with Google’s Larry Page. Wisk is building self-flying, four-seater “air taxis” designed for zipping around cities. Boeing is providing the money and expertise to get this project off the ground. A proven playbook for large corporations to enter new markets is to play the role of “talent scout.” Boeing’s strategy could become keeping tabs on promising startups in the space then buying their way into the market when the time is right.
Airbus (AIR)
Airbus (AIR) is appealing as a well-established brand with deep resources that could become a major player in eVTOLs down the road.
Airbus, another big name in aviation, wants to be more proactive in entering the flying car market. They see these vehicles as the answer to pollution and traffic jams in our biggest cities. Their designs, like the CityAirbus NextGen, are all about these quick, targeted trips.
Airbus has a few options with its flying car business model. They could build the vehicles, offer the ‘air traffic control’ systems to manage them, or even launch their own ‘air taxi’ service. Airbus has a major advantage: they’re already experts at getting airplanes certified as safe to fly. This reputation could translate to more consumer trust and easier adoption.
Like Boeing, Airbus is taking a cautious approach to flying cars. They’re not rushing into mass production, but instead focusing on the underlying technology and the infrastructure cities will need to handle all these new vehicles in the sky. They’ve shown off prototypes like the CityAirbus NextGen, but for now, they’re still laying the groundwork.
Honeywell (HON)
Honeywell (HON) is an option for investors who believe the entire aviation industry will benefit from eVTOL growth, as their core business is supplying key parts and systems.
Honeywell is playing an important behind-the-scenes role in the flying car industry as a supplier. They don’t build the flashy vehicles you see in the news, but they make all the essential parts under the hood. That includes engines, navigation systems, ‘autopilot’ features, and other high-tech systems that keep flying cars airborne.
For example, they’ve developed a proprietary automated landing system (Honeywell Assisted Landing). They’ve also designed Honeywell Anthem as their large electric engine meant to keep larger vehicles afloat. As a result, Honeywell has signed deals with some of the biggest players in the industry, like Volocopter, Joby, and Jaunt.
Aerwins Technologies (AWIN)
Aerwins Technologies (AWIN) offers investors an alternative angle to urban air mobility – flying hoverbikes.
Aerwins Technologies is different from the other companies in this tier, as it’s not a giant dipping its toes into flying cars. Instead, Aerwins made headlines with its XTURISMO hoverbike, a recreational vehicle that blurs the lines between flying cars and futuristic motorcycles. While not a traditional eVTOL aircraft, Aerwins is carving out a unique niche within the broader air mobility market.
The XTURISMO is already commercially available in limited numbers, primarily for demonstrations and exhibitions. This positions them ahead of many eVTOL competitors who are still in the development and testing phases. Unlike companies primarily targeting urban transportation, Aerwins’ initial focus is on leisure and potentially emergency responder applications. This positions them in a less regulated space with a potentially faster path to market adoption. That said, Aerwins has ambitions to develop larger, multi-passenger hoverbikes or similar flying vehicles in the future.
The flying car revolution is almost here, and these companies are at the forefront. Whether you’re excited about the potential of companies focused purely on flying cars, the stability of businesses with other projects on the side, or the experience of huge industry names getting involved in the game, there’s a way to invest in the future of getting around our cities.
