We’re talking about electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles. This is how the world’s leading car manufacturers envision the future.
1 BMW Skai
BMW’s Designworks division played a role in developing ‘Skai,’ a hydrogen-powered eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft designed for four passengers. Equipped with six electric motors, it reaches speeds of up to 118 mph and has a claimed range of 400 miles. According to its creator, Alaka’i, Skai could significantly cut travel times—especially when traffic is stuck on the ground, not in the air.
For safety, it features a three-layer system: it can keep flying if one motor fails, land safely if two enter limp mode, and, as a last resort, deploy a parachute for an emergency landing.
2 Honda's eVTOL aircraft
Honda is developing a hybrid eVTOL, combining its Formula One regenerative technology with the aero engine used in the HondaJet. This electrified gas-turbine power unit features 10 rotors and a range of around 250 miles. In the future, Honda estimates it could reduce an inter-city trip from five hours by car to just over 2.5 hours by air. Sounds like a game-changer.
3 Hyundai's Supernal S-A2
Hyundai’s Supernal SA-2, unveiled at CES 2024, is equipped with eight tilting rotors for seamless vertical lift and forward thrust. Designed with a V-tail, it can cruise at 120 mph for up to 40 miles. Hyundai also claims it will be as quiet as a dishwasher—assuming no one’s singing over it. According to design chief Luc Donckerwolke, it’s "the true representation of ‘auto meets aero.’"
4 Porsche's collab with Boeing
Back in 2019, Porsche teamed up with Boeing to develop a futuristic flying concept. The plan was for a sleek, carbon-fiber two-seater—either autonomously piloted or manually controlled if one passenger had the right certification. Think Batman’s weekend jet, but real.
The design included a fast-charging battery, bendable wings, and ducted fans that could tilt for lift or thrust. There were whispers of a prototype at the time, but six years later, updates have been scarce. Maybe Batman’s still enjoying the test drive.
5 The Midnight built by Archer, manufactured by Stellantis
Stellantis has invested $150 million in Archer Aviation for exclusive manufacturing rights to its all-electric eVTOL, Midnight. Designed for urban travel rather than long distances, Midnight has a range of about 100 miles. Production is set to begin soon at a pace of two units per month, with plans to scale up to two per day by 2030.
6 Suzuki SkyDrive
SkyDrive is Suzuki’s flying car project: an all-electric vehicle with 12 motor-rotors, room for two passengers and a pilot, and a range of about 25 miles. Set to debut in Osaka later this year, it will have a top speed of 62 mph—twice the speed of the uncrewed SkyDrive SD-01 that launched over a decade ago. As for 2035? Time will tell.
7 Toyota Joby eVTOL
Joby Aviation’s eVTOL, backed by nearly a billion pounds from Toyota to help pass regulatory testing and build the aircraft, can reach speeds of up to 205 mph. It’s already completed three of the five certification stages required by aviation authorities. With 200 mph achieved, Joby’s next goal is to reach 10,000 feet, and Stage Four certification is halfway complete. Could quieter, zero-emission air travel be closer than we think?
8 Xpeng AeroHT eVTOL
The Xpeng AeroHT is a human-carrying drone that made a splash at CES 2025, featuring its own Land Aircraft Carrier. It’s close to receiving regulatory approval in China, where people will be able to drive to a 'Flying Camp,' deploy the vehicle, board, and fly freely in open airspace. Xpeng plans to build over 200 camps with landing platforms, which is fortunate, as pre-orders for the package have already reached around 3,000.
