Fiat Chrysler teams with silicon valley startup on new air taxi
Justin Bachman
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV will help Archer, a California startup, try to reduce production costs on a proposed electric aircraft designed to reduce traffic congestion and pollution.
The automaker’s low-cost supply chain and expertise in advanced materials and engineering will help to make Archer’s vehicle more affordable, the companies said in statement Tuesday. Archer said it plans to unveil its aircraft early this year, with production intended to start in 2023.
“Electrification within the transportation sector whether on roads or in the air is the future and with any new and rapidly developing technology, scale is important,” Doug Ostermann, Fiat Chrysler’s head of global business development, said in the statement. He cited mutual benefits from the partnership and said it would hasten the arrival of new transportation options.
- January 12, 2021, 9:10 AM
Archer says it will be ready to begin commercial operations with its four-seat eVTOL aircraft in 2024. (Image: Archer)
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) is partnering with eVTOL developer Archer to provide composite materials and engineering support for the four-passenger aircraft due to be unveiled this year. The U.S.-based carmaker, which has not disclosed whether it is making a direct investment in Archer, is following the lead of Asian rivals Hyundai and Toyota, which have both made big financial commitments to the advanced air mobility sector.
California-based Archer, which launched in May, plans to start volume production of its unnamed aircraft by 2023 and begin commercial operations it describes as “airline” service in 2024. This year, it expects to begin flight testing a full-scale prototype for an all-electric fixed-wing aircraft that would fly up to 60 miles at speeds of 150 mph.
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The “flying car” market continues to draw more competitors. On Tuesday, automaking giants Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCAU) and General Motors (GM) announced they will enter the air-mobility sector.
Fiat Chrysler said it has entered into an agreement with Archer to help accelerate its electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft’s time to market.
Through the partnership, Archer will have access to Fiat Chrysler’s low-cost supply chain, advanced composite material capabilities, and engineering and design experience. The companies will also work together to reduce the cost of production, allowing Archer to “bring affordably priced service to customers” through the eVTOL.