Boeing Invests in Air Taxi Startup
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA—Urban air mobility is the hottest segment of the aerospace industry, with numerous companies developing electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) air taxis. One of the leading start-up companies, Wisk Aero LLC, recently secured a $450 million investment from Boeing.
The investment will help advance development of Wisk’s 6th generation eVTOL plane, a first-ever candidate for certification of an autonomous, all-electric, passenger-carrying aircraft in the United States. The funding will also support the company as it enters an intensive growth phase over the next few years that includes ramping up production of advanced air mobility (AAM) aircraft.
“[We are] extremely well-positioned to deliver on our long-term strategy and commitment to safe, everyday flight for everyone,” claims Gary Gysin, CEO of Wisk. “We are incredibly fortunate to have Boeing as not only an investor but a strategic partner, which provides us with access to a breadth of resources, industry-leading expertise, a global reach, extensive certification experience and more.
“As we enter this next stage of our growth, this additional funding provides us with capital while allowing us to remain focused on our core business and our No. 1 priority, safety,” explains Gysin.
“With this investment, we are reconfirming our belief in Wisk’s business and the importance of their work in pioneering all-electric, AI-driven, autonomous capability for the aerospace industry,” adds Marc Allen, chief strategy officer at Boeing. “Autonomy is the key to unlocking scale across all AAM applications, from passenger to cargo and beyond.
“That’s why straight-to-autonomy is a core first principle,” says Allen. “Boeing and Wisk have been at the forefront of AAM innovation for more than a decade, and will continue to lead in the years ahead.”
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