Eve Air Mobility (EVEX) completed the inaugural flight of its uncrewed, full‑scale eVTOL prototype on December 19, 2025, at Embraer’s test facility in Gavião Peixoto, Brazil. The flight marked the first time the aircraft left the ground, validating the integration of the company’s fifth‑generation fly‑by‑wire system and fixed‑pitch lifter rotors in a lift‑plus‑cruise configuration.
During the test, the prototype performed a hover and a transition to forward flight, collecting high‑fidelity data that confirms the aircraft’s lift‑plus‑cruise design performs as modeled. The data set will be used to accelerate the type‑certification program, providing the company with a critical benchmark for the next phases of flight testing and regulatory engagement.
Eve’s partnership with Embraer underpins the milestone. Embraer supplies manufacturing expertise and a $100 million annual R&D subsidy, while the joint effort positions Eve to meet its target of type certification and first deliveries by 2027. The collaboration also gives Eve access to Embraer’s established certification track record with ANAC, the FAA, and EASA.
CEO Johann Bordais said the flight “validates our plan and gives us the data to move forward with confidence toward certification.” Chief Technology Officer Luiz Valentini added that the prototype behaved as predicted, and that the data will enable a disciplined expansion of the flight envelope toward wingborne operations in 2026.
The announcement triggered a positive market reaction, with the stock rising 8.49% and a $132 million increase in valuation, while pre‑market trading showed a 5% gain. Analysts noted that the flight de‑risks the program technologically, but also highlighted ongoing regulatory and financial headwinds.
Eve remains a pre‑revenue company, reporting no revenue and increasing losses, with substantial cash burn. However, the order backlog is valued in the billions, and the first flight positions the company favorably against competitors such as Joby, Archer, Lilium, and Volocopter. The company will conduct hundreds of flights in 2026, aiming to complete the certification cycle and begin deliveries in 2027, though some analysts suggest a 2028 timeline due to regulatory complexity.
The flight test campaign will continue through 2026, with a focus on expanding the envelope to full wingborne operations. Eve is actively engaging ANAC, the FAA, and EASA, and the company’s partnership with Embraer provides a strong foundation for navigating the certification process while maintaining momentum in a highly competitive urban air mobility market.
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