3D commuting, that's the dream. Soaring over stopped traffic in a lightweight, quiet, safe personal eVTOL aircraft. The Velocitor X-1 joins a growing list of such machines, and it's slated to enter production within a year.
The X-1 is being developed by Michigan-based startup Velo X Aerospace, which is now taking $5,000 deposits on an initial run of 100 aircraft that are slated to begin production in the first quarter of 2027. The total price of each of those first 100 is US$156,000.
Like a number of similar eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft, the single-passenger X-1 utilizes eight electric motor/propeller modules mounted coaxially on the ends of four arms.
FAA greenlights eVTOL aircraft operations across the USA
By Loz Blain
March 17, 2026
Nearly three years after China began certifying next-gen electric "air taxis" for commercial flights, American contenders are still battling red tape with the FAA – but a new accelerator program will get them airborne across the USA this summer.
I've been writing about eVTOLs for more than a decade now; they're everything a futurist could want in the transport system of tomorrow. Vastly quieter and cheaper than helicopters, they promise to democratize short-range flights with Uber-adjacent pricing, and unlock 3-D commuting with rooftop-to-rooftop urban hops. They're clean, they're quick, they're super maneuverable – and they tend to look all sexy and sci-fi, which doesn't hurt at all.
They're also taking forever to make it through America's FAA type certification process for commercial use. The FAA requires all commercial aircraft to be as safe as your average airliner – the probability of failure is expected to be around one in a billion hours of flight, about 1,500 times safer per mile than driving.
Eh, a "limited permit" would have to be very limited to not seriously endanger the public (think crashing into buildings), to the point where it wouldn't be very useful outside of sparsely populated rural areas.
Not that the Trump admin is known for thinking things through.
Semicircular wings give Cyclone VTOL a different kind of lift
By Michael Franco
April 07, 2026
We've seen lots of designs for vertical take-off and landing vehicles over the years, but none are quite as striking as the wings on HopFlyt's Cyclone. The curved wings have their root in a design first introduced in the 1920s but never employed in a commercial vehicle.
In 1925, a man named Willard Ray Custer had an interesting idea. Instead of getting an airplane to move at rapid speeds to create lift on its wings, why not move air over the wing using a propeller? So instead of pushing an entire plane through the air to get it skyward, you in effect, bring the air to the wings.
A few years later, Custer patented his design for a channel wing. This design, which features propellers set into a half-circle channel on each wing, provided planes shorter take-off distances thanks to lift at slower airspeeds. To demonstrate this, Custer had a man run alongside one of his channel wing planes until it lifted off the ground. In another test, Custer's team strapped the plane down, and turned on the propellers. The resultant lift the craft exhibited is probably the first instance of plane taking off vertically.
Unfortunately, Custer never found a way to make channel wings commercially viable. Planes back then were simply too heavy to make the system efficient.
China has a rapidly growing eVTOL ("flying machine") sector, supported by government focus on the "low-altitude economy." Several companies are developing personal or small-scale crewed/autonomous electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft similar to the Jetson ONE (single- or two-seat, recreational/short-hop personal flyers). Most are still ramping up, with far fewer actual deliveries than orders in many cases.Here’s a list of the most relevant similar models from Chinese manufacturers, based on public data as of mid-April 2026. I focused on those closest to Jetson ONE’s personal/ultralight style (not large air-taxi or cargo-only models). Numbers reflect sales/orders vs. actual deliveries to owners where reported—exact "in hands and actively used" figures are rarely broken out publicly, as with Jetson. 1. YIVTOL S-ZERO (by YIVTOL / Shenzhen Yingwu Intelligent Technology / YiVTOL)Description: Single-seat ultralight personal eVTOL— the closest direct competitor to the Jetson ONE in design, weight, and recreational use (short hops, ~30 min flight time, battery swap in ~2 minutes). Empty weight ~110 kg; received China’s first special flight permit for an ultra-light personal eVTOL.
Sales/Deliveries: Initial batch of ~40 units delivered globally starting late 2025 (including to customers in multiple continents, one in Dubai, and the first U.S. customer). Additional handovers (e.g., at CES 2026) have occurred, but no updated total beyond the initial 40+ has been publicly released. These are in private owners’ hands and being flown (insurance-certified in China).
Status: Early commercialization; global push ongoing.
2. EHang EH216-S (and EH216 series / VT-35 variants) (by EHang)Description:Two-seat fully autonomous (pilotless) passenger eVTOL for short recreational/tourism flights. More established than Jetson ONE, with full Chinese type/production/airworthiness certifications—the first passenger eVTOL worldwide to achieve this. Used for sightseeing and commercial ops rather than pure individual piloted flight.
Sales/Deliveries: Strongest numbers in the sector. 221 units delivered in 2025 alone (215 EH216 series + 6 VT-35), on top of ~216 EH216 units in 2024 for a cumulative total well over 400. Q4 2025 alone saw 100 units. Many went to enterprise/tourism clients and are in active commercial use (e.g., scenic areas). Additional orders (50+ in mid-2025, 150+ in Q2 2025) continue.
Status: Commercial passenger operations launched in China in March 2026; by far the most units actually in owners/operators’ hands and flying regularly. https://www.ehang.com/ehang216s/
3. XPeng AeroHT Land Aircraft Carrier (with detachable X3-F / similar flying module) (by XPeng AeroHT / Aridge, XPeng subsidiary)Description: Modular "flying car"—street-legal ground vehicle carries a detachable two-seat eVTOL flyer for short aerial hops. More hybrid consumer vehicle than pure ultralight like Jetson ONE, but marketed for personal/recreational aerial mobility.
Sales/Deliveries: 5,000–7,000+ orders (including international, e.g., Middle East). Mass production ramping; first customer deliveries targeted for H2 2026 (none widely reported in owners’ hands yet as of April 2026).
Status: Pre-delivery phase; factory scaling for 10,000+ annual capacity.
4. GOVY AirCab (by GAC GOVY, subsidiary of state-owned GAC)Description: Multi-rotor two-seat eVTOL flying car for urban/short personal flights.
Sales/Deliveries: 2,000+ intent orders (value >3.3 billion yuan / ~$474 million) announced in Jan 2026. No actual deliveries reported yet.
Status: Airworthiness certification underway; full type/production certificates targeted by end-2026, with mass production/delivery expected later in 2026.
Other Mentions (Less Data or Less Similar)Smaller prototypes/demos (e.g., Skytech UAV, Global UAV passenger drones) appear in videos but have no significant reported sales or deliveries.
Companies like AutoFlight focus on larger 5-seat passenger or cargo eVTOLs (some cargo trials/deliveries occurring, but not personal/recreational like Jetson).
Niche or early-stage (e.g., Uwant Intelligent or Ryctor models) show low-volume listings (~$29k–under $40k range) with minimal units (1–handful), but not at scale.
Overall context: EHang leads by a huge margin in actual delivered and operating units (hundreds in owners’/operators’ hands and flying). YIVTOL is the nearest single-seat personal match with confirmed early deliveries. XPeng and GOVY have big pre-order books but are still pre- or early-delivery in 2026. China’s market is accelerating due to regulatory support, but like Jetson ONE, practical use is limited by flight time, weather, landing spots, and rules. Many sales go to tourism operators rather than individuals.Exact real-time "in hands and being used" totals aren’t publicly detailed beyond the delivery figures above (similar to Jetson’s limited transparency). For the latest, check company sites (e.g., yivtol.com, ehang.com) or official announcements, as the sector moves fast. If you’re interested in a specific model, let me know for more details!
Here’s a list of the top 10 eVTOL (electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing) aircraft or companies as of mid-April 2026.
"Top" rankings in this fast-evolving sector are based on a combination of certification progress, actual deliveries/sales, order backlog, commercial operations, funding/investment, and media/analyst attention—not just hype.
expertmarketresearch.com
I prioritized relevance to personal/recreational "flying machines" like the Jetson ONE (single/two-seat ultralight or personal eVTOLs) while including major air-taxi players, as most "top 10" lists blend both. Large air-taxi models dominate headlines, but personal ones (like Jetson) have more individual owners flying them today. 1. EHang EH216-S (EHang, China)Two-seat autonomous (pilotless) passenger eVTOL for tourism/short hops.
Standout: World's first with full Chinese type/production/airworthiness certification. Revenue-generating commercial ops launched in China (March 2026) and trials elsewhere.
Sales/Deliveries: Record 221 units delivered in 2025 (215 EH216 series + 6 VT-35 variants); cumulative hundreds in operators' hands, many in active sightseeing use. Strong order book (>2,500 total reported historically).
urbanairmobilitynews.com
Status: Far ahead in real-world operations among Chinese players.
2. Joby Aviation S4 (Joby Aviation, USA)Four-passenger + pilot piloted air taxi.
Standout: Furthest along in FAA certification (Stage 4); plans for commercial launch (e.g., Dubai).
Sales/Deliveries: Large conditional orders (thousands via partnerships like Delta, Toyota); no widespread customer deliveries yet—focus on service model.
Status: Leader in U.S. urban air mobility certification race.
3. Archer Aviation Midnight (Archer Aviation, USA)Four-passenger + pilot piloted eVTOL.
Standout: Strong partnerships (United Airlines, Stellantis); production scaling.
Sales/Deliveries: Significant pre-orders; early production ramp but limited customer handovers in 2026.
Status: Close rival to Joby for piloted air taxis.
4. Jetson ONE (Jetson Aero, Sweden/USA/Italy)Single-seat personal ultralight eVTOL (recreational short hops, ~20 min flight time).
Standout: FAA Part 103 compliant (no pilot license needed in U.S.); viral marketing and early deliveries.
Sales/Deliveries: 650+ orders (~$100M value); dozens delivered to owners by early 2026 (starting Sept 2025, including to Palmer Luckey); ~100 targeted for 2026. Many in private owners' hands and flown recreationally.
youtube.com
Status: Leading personal single-seater with actual individual usage.
5. Lilium Jet (Lilium, Germany)Six-passenger + pilot "jet-style" regional eVTOL.
Standout: Unique ducted-fan design for longer range; targeting premium/private sales too.
Sales/Deliveries: Binding agreements (e.g., 50 with Saudia); first customer deliveries targeted 2026.
Status: European contender for regional mobility.
6. Volocopter VoloCity (Volocopter, Germany)Two-seat piloted urban air taxi.
Standout: Safety-focused multicopter design; European trials.
Sales/Deliveries: Sandbox trials; limited commercial deliveries so far.
Status: Established in European UAM efforts.
7. YIVTOL S-ZERO (YIVTOL / YiVTOL, China)Single-seat ultralight personal eVTOL—closest direct Jetson ONE rival (lightweight, short hops, battery swap).
Standout: China's first special flight permit for ultra-light personal eVTOL; insurance certified.
Sales/Deliveries: Initial batch of ~40 units delivered globally (late 2025 into 2026, including U.S. and Dubai customers); more handovers at events like CES 2026. In private owners' hands.
urbanairmobilitynews.com
Status: Aggressive pricing and global push for personal flyers.
8. XPeng AeroHT (Land Aircraft Carrier + X3 flying module, China)Modular "flying car" with detachable two-seat eVTOL.
Standout: Hybrid ground + air vehicle for personal/recreational use.
Sales/Deliveries: 5,000–7,000+ orders; first customer deliveries targeted H2 2026.
Status: High pre-order interest in China's low-altitude economy.
9. Vertical Aerospace VX4 / Valo (Vertical Aerospace, UK)Piloted eVTOL for urban/regional use.
Standout: Progress on certification and piloted transitions.
Sales/Deliveries: Pre-orders; production and delivery ramp ongoing but limited in early 2026.
Status: UK/European player with stock visibility.
10. Pivotal Helix (Pivotal, USA) or Rictor X4 (Rictor / Kuickwheel, China)Pivotal Helix: Single-seat personal eVTOL (~$190k, deliveries within ~1 year of order; reservations >10 with a year's backlog).
Rictor X4: Affordable single-seat personal pod (~$39,900 claimed price); first deliveries targeted Q2 2026.
Standout: Both target accessible personal/recreational flight (ultralight-friendly).
Sales/Deliveries: Pivotal has early reservations/deliveries; Rictor is pre-delivery but hyped for low cost.
latimes.com
Status: Emerging affordable personal options.
Notes:Chinese dominance in volume: EHang leads actual deliveries by far; others like YIVTOL, XPeng, and GOVY AirCab (2,000+ intent orders) benefit from government "low-altitude economy" support but lag in certified operations compared to EHang.
Personal vs. Commercial: Jetson ONE, YIVTOL S-ZERO, Pivotal Helix, and Rictor X4 are closest to true "personal flying machines" with individual owners actively using them. Most others are air-taxi focused (piloted or autonomous services).
Challenges across the board: Long wait times, regulatory hurdles, short flight times (20–30+ min), weather/landing limits, and scaling production affect all. Deliveries often trail orders significantly.
Rankings shift quickly with new certifications or announcements. For the absolute latest on any specific model (including exact current deliveries in owners' hands), check official company sites or recent financial reports.
AutoFlight has completed a heterogeneous three-aircraft formation flight with the V5000 Matrix, a 5-metric-ton electric aircraft that could push eVTOL technology well beyond the urban air taxi niche.
The mission – one V5000 Matrix flying in coordination with two V2000-series aircraft – validated cross-platform communication links, route planning, flight coordination, and safety control across 5-ton and 2-ton platforms simultaneously.
Many eVTOLs making headlines are compact machines designed to ferry two or four passengers across a city center. AutoFlight is literally thinking much bigger. The V5000 Matrix spans 20 m (65.6 ft) wingtip to wingtip, stretches 17.1 m (56.1 ft) in length, stands nearly 3.3 m (11 ft) tall, and has a maximum takeoff weight of 5,700 kg (12,566 lb) – making it the largest publicly known, full-scale crewed eVTOL in development by sheer physical footprint.
The "flying car" and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) industry has shifted dramatically. The industry has largely moved away from experimental prototypes and moved heavily into mass-manufacturing partnerships, intense regulatory certification push, and real-world commercial delivery targets.
1. Alef Aeronautics Begins Manufacturing for 2026 Deliveries
California startup Alef Aeronautics has officially begun hand-assembling the first batch of its Model A electric flying car at its facility in Silicon Valley.
The Model A is unique because it is designed to function as both a standard road-driven car and a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft. The car features a proprietary mesh body that conceals internal propulsion rotors.
The Milestones: The company has completed over 1,000 successful test flights—including a widely publicized demonstration where a prototype successfully took off vertically over a Tesla Cybertruck.
The Rollout: Backed by over 3,500 pre-orders (valued at over $1 billion), Alef plans to deliver its first low-volume, hand-made production units to early buyers later this year for real-world controlled testing. The vehicle carries a starting price tag of $299,999.
2. Toyota and Joby Scale Up Factory Operations
The distinctions between the automotive and aerospace sectors are completely blurring. Toyota Motor Corp. and U.S. air taxi pioneer Joby Aviation officially formed a manufacturing joint venture: Joby Toyota Aero Manufacturing Preparation Co.
Based in California and 51% owned by Toyota, the joint venture is designed to establish the automated assembly lines necessary for the mass production of Joby’s electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Joby is currently leading the race toward full FAA type certification, having already executed human-piloted transition flights. They are aiming for initial commercial operations under the FAA's Integration Pilot Program (eIPP).
3. The Great Certification Race: U.S. vs. International Timelines
A massive divide has opened up between heavily capitalized U.S. companies and international startups due to the steep costs of aviation certification, which experts now estimate can top $3 billion per aircraft.
Company
Status / Timeline
Focus Market
Joby Aviation
Final stage of FAA Type Inspection Authorization (TIA).
Airport shuttles with Delta Air Lines; Uber app integration.
Archer Aviation
Finalizing "Midnight" aircraft for-credit testing.
Official air taxi provider for the LA28 Olympic Games.
BETA Technologies
Testing its ALIA 250 platform; executing pilot programs.
Cargo and logistics (UPS) and U.S. Air Force contracts.
Vertical Aerospace (UK)
Flew its latest piloted prototype (G-EVTB); timeline slipped to 2028.
European short-haul commutes.
Eve Air Mobility (Brazil)
Utilizing parent Embraer's assets to cut costs; target slipped to 2028.
Global rideshare network.
The Regulatory Fix: The FAA has finalized its "powered-lift" regulatory category, combining standard fixed-wing airplane rules with helicopter rotorcraft rules. This gives flying car companies a definitive, strict legal blueprint to clear their vehicles for commercial flight, replacing the erratic, one-off exemptions used in the past.
The autonomous vehicle (AV) industry has hit a major commercial inflection point. The industry's center of gravity has shifted from electric vehicles (EVs) back to AI-driven autonomous systems, powered by massive breakthroughs in "Large World Models" (LWMs) that allow cars to understand context (like a vehicle on fire or a complex construction zone) rather than just tracking lines on a road.
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## 1. The Robotaxi Wars Heat Up: Zoox vs. Waymo vs. Uber
The race for driverless ride-hailing is scaling rapidly past the testing phase into massive commercial expansions:
* **Zoox (Amazon):** Following its public deployment in Las Vegas late last year, Amazon’s purpose-built, steering-wheel-free robotaxi is officially rolling out paid passenger rides. Zoox is also expanding its bidirectional, 4-passenger shuttles into San Francisco, going head-to-head with market incumbents.
* **Waymo (Alphabet):** Waymo remains the dominant force, actively operating completely driverless rides across Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. A recent Pew Research study noted that while still rare, roughly 5% of US adults have now ridden in a driverless vehicle, largely driven by Waymo's fleet. Waymo is also prepping its new custom vehicle (built by Geely) for deployment later this year.
* **Uber & Wayve:** Uber is aggressively re-entering the space through partnerships. UK-based startup Wayve is launching autonomous ride-hailing trials via the Uber app in London, utilizing "Embodied AI" that mimics human driving behaviors to tackle complex European roundabouts.
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## 2. Mass-Market Consumer Tech: The Leap to Level 3
While robotaxis operate at Level 4 (fully driverless in specific zones), personal vehicles are making a heavy push toward Level 3 ("eyes-off" driving, where the car takes full responsibility under specific conditions):
* **Mercedes-Benz & Lucid:** Mercedes continues to roll out its DRIVE PILOT Level 3 system (hands-free up to 60 mph on approved highways) on its high-end S-Class and EQS. Meanwhile, Lucid is entering the arena with its new Gravity SUV featuring DreamDrive Pro, utilizing Mobileye tech to bring similar hands-free capabilities to the luxury electric SUV space.
* **Ford's $30,000 Autonomy Play:** In a massive shift to democratize the tech, Ford announced that it is building an affordable, $30,000 Universal Electric Vehicle (UEV) platform. While starting with an electric truck, Ford intends to scale this platform to offer true Level 3 "eyes-off" driving by 2028, making self-driving tech accessible to mass-market consumers rather than just luxury buyers.
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## 3. Regulation and Accountability Crackdowns
As driverless cars become normal traffic fixtures, regulators are stepping in to treat them like human drivers.
The California DMV enacted sweeping new AV regulations. For the first time, law enforcement officers are legally authorized to issue **traffic citations and moving violations directly to the AV manufacturers** when a driverless car breaks traffic laws. The new rules also force driverless car companies to respond to first responders within 30 seconds during an incident, and allow local emergency officials to instantly mandate "no-entry zones" that AVs must autonomously route around.
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> **The Hardware Shift:** The multi-year debate over sensors has officially settled. High-level autonomy has embraced a hybrid stack combining solid-state LiDAR, 4D imaging radar, and high-res cameras. Because LiDAR production costs have plummeted to between $200 and $500 per unit, automakers can finally integrate these lasers into everyday passenger cars without spiking the sticker price.
