Eve flying car performs 59 successful hover tests in development

Eve Air Mobility, a subsidiary of Embraer, has successfully completed the testing phase involving hovering and low-speed flights of its electric vertical take-off vehicle. On Thursday (21), the company completed 59 tests that validated the aircraft’s cargo transport capacity, aerodynamic performance, propulsion system and energy management. The result represents an important advance for flying cars (known as eVTOL) towards commercial use in cities.

Hover and performance Testes reach important milestones

Durante hovered flights, the eVTOL reached 65.5 meters in height and remained in flight for 3 minutes and 48 seconds. The aircraft showed good performance in low-speed flights, initially at 27.78 km/h, later increased to 37.04 km/h horizontal speed. The tests included specific maneuvers to evaluate aerodynamics and load-bearing capacity.

The company also carried out the first automatic landing tests and implemented a safety layer that is activated when the main mode of operation is not available. Esses results met the development team’s expectations and provided essential data for the next steps of the program.

NOTÍCIA | @EveAirMobility conclui etapa estratégica de ensaios e avança eVTOL rumo aos voos de transição. Leia notícia completa: https://t.co/LiZgHh4jtB pic.twitter.com/aHMTAf0N9k

— Embraer (@embraer) May 21, 2026

Cronograma for flight transition in second half of 2026

Nas In the coming weeks, the aircraft will undergo preparatory tests that will qualify it for transition flights. Essa is considered the most challenging phase in the development of new aeronautical technologies, consisting of testing the moment in which the aircraft leaves vertical flight mode and switches to horizontal flight mode.

The company reported that transition tests should begin in the second half of 2026. According to the Segundo schedule, the aircraft will be ready for operation by 2027. The test program will take place throughout this year, with continuous assessments of each system and subsystem of the vehicle.

Especificações technical and operational capabilities

The eVTOL has capacity for 5 people, 4 passengers and 1 pilot and is equipped with eight electric motors in the wings and one in the rear. In vertical and horizontal flights, the aircraft will have a range of 100 kilometers.

The flying car production unit is located in Taubaté, inside São Paulo, and the company is already making preparations for manufacturing scale. The expectation is to produce up to 480 aircraft per year when the production line reaches full capacity.

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Marcos achieved in development program

eVTOL completed an unmanned flight for the first time in December last year, marking a turning point in the test program. Antes of this week’s tests, the company carried out a demonstration flight in March on the Embraer runway in Gavião Peixoto, inside São Paulo, with the presence of the president Lula.

The test sequence began in 2024 with validations of individual systems, progressing to integrated tests in 2025 and now consolidating the hover phase. Cada step produced data that feeds the development of later releases and performance optimizations.

Demanda Commercial and Revenue Projections

Eve Air Mobility has already received more than 2,900 reservation requests, from 30 customers in 13 different countries. Esses orders represent a revenue potential of US$14.5 billion, equivalent to approximately R$72.6 billion.

The client portfolio includes urban mobility operators, executive transport companies and logistics services. The geographic diversity of requests reflects global interest in air mobility solutions to reduce congestion in urban centers.

Próximos business operation steps and outlook

Testing the transition between flight modes will represent a significant technical challenge. The company plans to collect data on aircraft stability, control and response during the change from vertical to horizontal flight configuration.

Após successful completion of transition testing, regulatory certifications with aviation authorities follow, including Agência Nacional from Aviação Civil (ANAC) into Brasil. Obtaining a type certificate is necessary for any commercial operation.

The implementation of air terminal infrastructure, called vetiports, is also under development in São Paulo and Rio of Janeiro. Essas facilities will be takeoff and landing points for eVTOLs, with specific air traffic control systems for operation in urban environments.