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Passing on Gas

Passing on Gas

It's just not needed where we're going

August 02, 2024

Welcome to Go Above Traffic.

The eVTOL newsletter that’s juicer than a ripe orange on a Summer day.

Here we go!

What you need to know in eVTOLs this week

Archer Aviation

Archer reaffirmed the October 2024 completion of its manufacturing facility in Covington, GA,

Once up and running, the 400,000 square feet facility will support Archer’s planned production of up to 650 Midnight aircraft annually.

That would make it one of the largest manufacturing facilities by volume in the aviation industry.

Archer didn’t give specifics on the ramp up time from producing a few eVTOLs, to tens per year to hundreds so that is worth keeping an eye on.

EHang

More deliveries are being completed by EHang.

The first batch of 10 pilotless eVTOLs were handed over to Taiyuan Xishan Ecological Tourism Investment Construction this week

It’s an impressive turn around time as the deal between the two organizations was inked in May.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is already in place or 450 units to be delivered over the next two years so EHang is looking good coming out of the gates.

SkyDrive

Japanese eVTOL developer SkyDrive said the first real test flight will occur within months.

It’s a big deal because they will be flying the actual eVTOL they plan to eventually use to achieve type certification.

For now, the plan is to have their eVTOL ready for demonstration flights at the 2025 World Expo in Osaka, Japan.

These eVTOL companies love targeting big global events as launch dates.

Last week, Wisk Aero announced they are working to develop an air taxi network in Australia by the 2032 Olympics Games.

Joby Aviation

JoeBen Bevirt, Joby’s CEO, didn’t fly across the Atlantic ocean and hang out in Farnborough, UK for nothing.

The company is eyeing the UK as a key European market to launch before 2030.

JoeBen told the Financial Times that Joby plans to launch in areas where there is limited connectivity and less access to high speed.

Joby has thrown around Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds as potential network hubs outside of London.

US and Dubai are the higher priority and will almost certainly be up and running before Joby brings the UK online.

AutoFlight

AutoFlight completed a 15 mile flight crossing the Yangtze River in Nanjing, China.

The 10 minute flight is just under an hour by car.

Earlier this year AutoFlight made news with a demonstration flight between Shenzhen and Zhuhai. That flight time was 20 minutes compared to a 2-3 hour journey by car.

The Markets

Or “The Casino” if you prefer the Wall Street Bets mentality…

The green is gone.

We had a good run up the last few weeks but were getting back to baseline.

The price movement is more of a response to which ever way the wind blows across the entire market.

Not getting too bogged down in the bouncing up and down for now.

The $100K Life Savings Bet

“Ideas that most people derided as ridiculous have produced the best outcomes. Don’t do the obvious thing.“

— Fred Wilson

Fred Wilson co-founded Union Square Ventures. It’s one of the most well known venture capital firms in the world.

They made early investments in companies like Twitter, Coinbase, Etsy, Zynga, etc.

Hard to say he doesn’t know how to spot early stage companies that turn out to be winners.

Am I sharing this quote because he invested in Joby?

Nope.

I am sharing this quote because it’s the confirmation bias I need to ignore people saying eVTOLs are ridiculous as I funnel my $100K life savings Joby,