Eve Air Mobility (“Eve”) has named four additional suppliers for its electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. On the interiors side, Recaro Aircraft Seating will supply the seats. Meanwhile Thales will supply a proven air data solution comprising sensors and a computer, while Honeywell will supply guidance, navigation and external lighting for the aircraft, and FACC will supply the horizontal and vertical tail, including the rudder and elevator.
These four new suppliers are in addition to Garmin, Liebherr Aerospace and Intergalactic, which were announced in October, and Nidec Aerospace LLC, a joint venture between Japan’s Nidec Corporation and Brazil’s Embraer, BAE Systems and DUC Hélices Propellers, which were announced at the Paris Air Show this past summer.
“We continue to be on schedule with our master plan and we are building a strong and reputable list of qualified suppliers for our eVTOL aircraft,” said Johann Bordais, CEO of Eve Air Mobility. “We have been very deliberate in establishing a long-term working relationship with each of our suppliers. Each agreement covers the aircraft’s life cycle, including prototype, production, and aftermarket service and operational support. We look forward to working with Thales, Honeywell, Recaro and FACC as we progress toward entry into service in 2026 and well into the future.”
Recaro will design, certify, and produce seats for the eVTOL aircraft The company is set to deliver a total of 75,000 seats (passenger seats and pilot seats), organised in shipsets of five seats each, with deliveries commencing in the first quarter of 2025. This is a milestone moment for Recaro, as it marks the company first venture into the world of eVTOL aircraft.
“The success of a project like this is only possible when there is a strong collaboration, just as there is between Recaro and Eve Air Mobility,” said Dr Mark Hiller, CEO of Recaro Aircraft Seating and Recaro Holding. “eVTOL aircraft represent an exciting new chapter for air transport, and I am confident that Recaro is well equipped to navigate it, as our strengths in lightweight design, superior quality, and outstanding ergonomics fit perfectly into the eVTOL segment.”
In July 2023, Eve announced that its first eVTOL production facility will be located in the city of Taubaté, in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The company has begun assembly of its first full-scale eVTOL prototype, which will be followed by a test campaign during 2024. Eve says its eVTOL is scheduled to begin deliveries and enter into service in 2026.
Eve’s eVTOL is 100% electric and is anticipated to have a range of 100km (60 miles) allowing it to complete a variety of urban air mobility missions. The aircraft features a lift + cruise configuration with dedicated rotors for vertical flight and fixed wings to fly on cruise, with no components required to change position during flight. It will be piloted at launch, but evolving towards uncrewed operations in the future.
