Japan is quickly becoming a hub for eVTOL and air taxi technology. This morning, Archer Aviation announced that it is the latest sustainable aviation developer to sign a deal in the region and implement air taxi transportation, starting with Soracle Corporation’s purchase of up to 100 Midnight eVTOL aircraft.

As mentioned above, while Japan has been slow to adopt fully electric vehicles, it appears to be fully embracing the prospect of air taxi networks via electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL). Already in 2021, the Osaka Roundtable, a Japanese organization, announced a partnership with Germany’s Volocopter to determine a strategy for the development and implementation of air taxi networks.

Other companies like SkyDrive are working with Japanese OEMs like Suzuki to help build their eVTOL aircraft abroad and even saw government funding in their ventures to continue the development of advanced air mobility (AAM).

Earlier this week, Joby Aviation completed its first eVTOL test flight demonstration in Japan alongside executives from Toyota, a major investor. Today, California-based air taxi developer Archer Aviation announced that it is joining its overseas competitors and already has its first customer lined up for a potentially large eVTOL order.

Archer forms a joint venture to establish air taxis in Japan

According to Archer Aviation, it has signed a joint venture with Soracle Corporation, which itself was formed this summer as a joint venture between Sumitomo Corporation and Japan Airlines, headquartered in Tokyo.

To kick things off, Soracle plans to launch AAM operations in Japan using Archer’s flagship eVTOL aircraft to offer the public all-electric air taxi flights in cities where current ground vehicle transportation is limited by traffic or geographical barriers.

As part of the joint venture, Soracle has acquired the right to order up to 100 Midnight aircraft, for a total cost of approximately $500 million. The terms of that potential purchase include pre-delivery payments based on certain milestones before the eVTOLs are delivered. Soracle CEO Yukihiro Ota shared his thoughts after a signing ceremony between both companies on September 26, 2024:

Through the operation of eVTOL aircraft, Soracle aims to enrich lives and society by creating more accessible air transport services in Japan. We will provide safe and reliable services to passengers by leveraging the wealth of knowledge we have acquired from Japan Airlines and Sumitomo Corporation. Today’s announcement is a first step towards realizing the future we envision.

To support Archer’s inbound fleet of Midnight eVTOLs, Soracle said it will develop a network of air taxi flight routes in attractive areas that residents, as well as domestic and international visitors, can use for faster travel around Japan. The company hinted that these route locations could include notable metropolitan areas such as Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Hokkaido, Setouchi and Okinawa.

To begin commercializing AAM and air taxi services in Japan, Archer and Soracle shared joint plans to hold a public flight demonstration at the World’s Fair to build public support, showcase the future of technology and accelerate stakeholder investment . The World Expo will take place from April to October 2024 in Osaka, Kansai, Japan.

With today’s news, Archer adds Soracle and Japan to its list of customers and partners around the world. A lineup that already includes Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, KaKaoMobility in Korea and the United Arab Emirates.