Key takeaways
- Top pick: Joby Aviation, best for: Cities and partners planning air taxi networks.
- Also near the top: EHang, best for: Operators running pilotless sightseeing and short-hop flights in China; and Archer Aviation, best for: Airlines and operators planning air taxi launches.
- How it was ranked: 10 deep tech companies compared. Each verdict is below.
Best eVTOL Companies: Top 10 Ranked. Joby Aviation ranks first, with a Lister Score of 97.1.
Joby Aviation leads globally on funding and progress toward air taxi service, with Uber passenger flights planned in Dubai.
EHang is the most proven, with full Chinese certification for its pilotless EH216-S,
Archer Aviation is preparing its first commercial operations in Abu Dhabi, and
Beta Technologies is best placed for electric cargo, medical and defence flights.
Best eVTOL Companies in 2026, compared| RANK | ENTRY | BEST FOR | SCORE | FROM |
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| 1 |  Joby AviationToyota's total investment in Joby reached $894 million after a $500 million tranche announced in October 2024. | Cities and partners planning air taxi networks | 97.1 | Not public |
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| 2 |  EHangEHang's EH216-S received its CAAC air operator certificate on 30 March 2025. | Operators running pilotless sightseeing and short-hop flights in China | 95.8 | Custom |
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| 3 |  Archer AviationThe UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority moved Midnight into its Restricted Type Certificate programme on 7 May 2026. | Airlines and operators planning air taxi launches | 94.6 | Custom |
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| 4 |  Beta TechnologiesBeta Technologies priced its upsized initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange in November 2025. | Cargo, medical and defence operators moving to electric flight | 93.3 | Custom |
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| 5 |  Wisk AeroWisk completed the first flight of its Generation 6 autonomous aircraft, announced in December 2025. | Cities planning autonomous air taxi service | 92.0 | Not public |
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| 6 |  Eve Air MobilityEve flew its full-scale prototype for Brazilian government authorities on 25 March 2026. | Operators who want an aircraft backed by an established aircraft maker | 90.6 | Custom |
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| 7 |  Vertical AerospaceVertical completed a two-way piloted transition flight of its VX4 prototype in April 2026. | Airlines and operators in Europe planning air taxi routes | 89.3 | Custom |
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| 8 |  AutoFlightAutoFlight's CarryAll received a CAAC type certificate in March 2024 and a production certificate in January 2025. | Cargo and logistics operators in China | 87.9 | Custom |
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| 9 |  Aridge (XPeng AeroHT)Aridge announced a bulk order of 600 units from partners in the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait in September 2026. | Private buyers interested in personal flying | 86.4 | Not public |
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| 10 |  VolocopterWanfeng acquired Volocopter through Diamond Aircraft for a reported 10 million euros in March 2025. | European cities exploring short-hop air taxi flights | 85.0 | Custom |
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How to choose
Start from what you need it for. Where each entry fits best:
- Joby Aviation (#1): Cities and partners planning air taxi networks
- EHang (#2): Operators running pilotless sightseeing and short-hop flights in China
- Archer Aviation (#3): Airlines and operators planning air taxi launches
- Beta Technologies (#4): Cargo, medical and defence operators moving to electric flight
- Wisk Aero (#5): Cities planning autonomous air taxi service
- Eve Air Mobility (#6): Operators who want an aircraft backed by an established aircraft maker
- Vertical Aerospace (#7): Airlines and operators in Europe planning air taxi routes
- AutoFlight (#8): Cargo and logistics operators in China
- Aridge (XPeng AeroHT) (#9): Private buyers interested in personal flying
- Volocopter (#10): European cities exploring short-hop air taxi flights
Each entry's full verdict is below.
The ranking, in detail
01
Joby S4 electric air taxi
Joby Aviation, based in Santa Cruz, California, is developing a four-passenger electric air taxi. In February 2026 Joby and Uber announced Uber Air powered by Joby in Dubai, where Joby expects to carry its first passengers.
PROS- Strong strategic backing from Toyota
- Rides to be bookable in the Uber app
CONS- Passenger service not yet routine
- Still completing FAA certification
- Best for
- Cities and partners planning air taxi networks
- Where it falls short
- Passenger service is not yet routine because the company is still completing FAA certification.
- Pick something else if
- you need immediate passenger service today.
97.1
02
EH216-S pilotless passenger eVTOL
EHang, based in Guangzhou, China, makes the EH216-S, a two-seat pilotless passenger eVTOL. It holds type, production and airworthiness certificates from the Civil Aviation Administration of China, and received its air operator certificate in March 2025.
PROS- Full certification in China
- Pilotless, autonomous design
CONS- Operations mainly in China so far
- Short-range, two-seat aircraft
- Best for
- Operators running pilotless sightseeing and short-hop flights in China
- Where it falls short
- Operations mainly in China so far.
- Pick something else if
- you need global operations or larger capacity.
95.8
03
Midnight piloted electric air taxi
Archer Aviation, based in San Jose, California, is developing Midnight, a piloted electric air taxi. Stellantis is its contract manufacturer and an equity investor, and Abu Dhabi Aviation is its first launch customer.
PROS- Manufacturing partnership with Stellantis
- Early commercial route in the UAE
CONS- Not yet carrying paying passengers
- Still completing FAA certification
- Best for
- Airlines and operators planning air taxi launches
- Where it falls short
- It does not yet carry paying passengers and is still completing FAA certification.
- Pick something else if
- you need a service already carrying paying passengers.
94.6
04
ALIA electric aircraft and charging network
Beta Technologies, based in South Burlington, Vermont, builds the ALIA family of electric aircraft, including the CX300 conventional take-off model and the A250 eVTOL, along with a charging network for electric aircraft. It listed on the New York Stock Exchange in November 2025.
PROS- Builds its own charging infrastructure
- Conventional take-off model eases the route to service
CONS- eVTOL model follows the CX300 in certification
- Not yet certified
- Best for
- Cargo, medical and defence operators moving to electric flight
- Where it falls short
- The A250 eVTOL is not yet certified for service.
- Pick something else if
- you need immediate certification.
93.3
05
Self-flying electric air taxi
Wisk Aero, based in Mountain View, California, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Boeing developing Generation 6, a self-flying, four-seat electric air taxi. Its first Generation 6 aircraft flew in December 2025 and a second prototype flew in May 2026.
PROS- Backed by Boeing
- Autonomous from the start
CONS- Autonomous certification path is longer
- Flight testing still at an early stage
- Best for
- Cities planning autonomous air taxi service
- Where it falls short
- Autonomous certification takes longer and flight testing remains early.
- Pick something else if
- you need immediate regulatory approval for operations.
92.0
06
Embraer-backed electric air taxi
Eve Air Mobility, majority owned by Embraer and listed on the New York Stock Exchange, is developing a piloted electric air taxi. Its uncrewed full-scale prototype first flew in December 2025 at Embraer's test site in Gaviao Peixoto, Brazil.
PROS- Embraer's engineering and support network
- Also offers air traffic management software
CONS- Flight testing at low speeds so far
- Not yet certified
- Best for
- Operators who want an aircraft backed by an established aircraft maker
- Where it falls short
- Flight testing at low speeds so far.
- Pick something else if
- you need a certified aircraft now.
90.6
07
VX4 piloted electric air taxi
Vertical Aerospace, based in Bristol, UK, is developing the VX4, a piloted electric air taxi. In April 2026 it completed a full two-way piloted transition flight between vertical and wing-borne flight from Kemble airfield in England.
PROS- Piloted transition flight achieved
- UK base with European focus
CONS- Not yet certified
- Smaller funding base than US leaders
- Best for
- Airlines and operators in Europe planning air taxi routes
- Where it falls short
- It is not yet certified for commercial operations.
- Pick something else if
- you need a certified aircraft now.
89.3
08
CarryAll cargo and Prosperity passenger eVTOLs
AutoFlight, based in Shanghai, makes the CarryAll cargo eVTOL and is developing Prosperity, a five-seat passenger version. CarryAll received its type certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China in March 2024, the first for an eVTOL above one ton.
PROS- Certified cargo aircraft
- Passenger version in certification
CONS- Passenger model not yet certified
- Operations mainly in China
- Best for
- Cargo and logistics operators in China
- Where it falls short
- It operates mainly in China and its passenger model is not yet certified.
- Pick something else if
- you need a globally available passenger aircraft.
87.9
09
Land Aircraft Carrier modular flying car
Aridge, formerly XPeng AeroHT, is developing the Land Aircraft Carrier, a six-wheeled vehicle that carries a two-seat eVTOL. The first unit came off its Guangzhou assembly line in November 2025, and the company reports more than 7,000 pre-orders.
PROS- Large pre-order book
- Backed by carmaker XPeng
CONS- Customer deliveries not yet started
- Awaiting CAAC approval
- Best for
- Private buyers interested in personal flying
- Where it falls short
- Customer deliveries have not yet started.
- Pick something else if
- you need immediate access to the vehicle.
86.4
10
VoloCity two-seat electric air taxi
Volocopter, based in Bruchsal, Germany, is developing the VoloCity two-seat electric air taxi. It came out of insolvency in March 2025 when it was acquired by Diamond Aircraft, part of China's Wanfeng Auto Holding Group.
PROS- Long flight-test history
- Certification support from Diamond Aircraft
CONS- Rebuilding after insolvency
- Short range and two seats
- Best for
- European cities exploring short-hop air taxi flights
- Where it falls short
- It offers a short range and only two seats.
- Pick something else if
- you need more seating capacity.
85.0
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best eVTOL Companies?
Joby Aviation ranks first on Lister. Joby Aviation, based in Santa Cruz, California, is developing a four-passenger electric air taxi. In February 2026 Joby and Uber announced Uber Air powered by Joby in Dubai, where Joby expects to carry its first passengers.
What are the top 10 eVTOL Companies?
1. Joby Aviation; 2. EHang; 3. Archer Aviation; 4. Beta Technologies; 5. Wisk Aero; 6. Eve Air Mobility; 7. Vertical Aerospace; 8. AutoFlight; 9. Aridge (XPeng AeroHT); 10. Volocopter.
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