Fox Business Alert. Your next Uber ride could be a thousand feet in the air. The ride hailing platform is teaming up with electric vehicle takeoff and landing company Joby Aviation to launch Uber Air.Shares of both companies flying high on the news that riders will be able to seamlessly book a Joby all electric air taxi directly through the Uber app. The feature is expected to launch later this year starting in Dubai. Joining me now first on Fox Business is Joby Aviation founder and CEO Joe Ben Bever.Joe Be ...

Beta Technologies and Amazon logos highlighted in front of an imaginative depiction of a Beta Technologies eCTOL aircraft. Key Points Amazon solidified its long-term partnership by acquiring a significant equity stake to support the decarbonization of its global delivery network. A solid liquidity position provides the company with the longest financial runway in the industry to support manufacturing and certification. Wall Street analysts see significant upside potential driven by near-term federal pr ...

Core Viewpoint - Amazon's investment in Beta Technologies signals confidence in the company's technology and market potential, leading to a significant rally in BETA shares by over 20% this week [1] Investment Implications - The 5.3% stake from Amazon provides institutional validation and a pathway to commercial scalability for BETA, enhancing its credibility and access to capital [4] - The partnership with Amazon secures a high-profile anchor customer, which can serve as a primary deployment ground for BETA's eVTOL aircraft [4] Market Performance - Despite the recent surge, BETA shares are still down more than 30% from their year-to-date high [2] - Jefferies analysts believe BETA shares are oversold and expect a price target of $30, indicating a potential upside of approximately 50% [7] Financial Outlook - BETA has transitioned from a speculative startup to a critical hardware supplier with tangible revenue streams, supported by a $1 billion contract with Eve Air Mobility [6] - Amazon's investment helps mitigate risks in the aerospace sector and reinforces the viability of BETA's technology, which is scheduled for certification in 2026 [5] Analyst Consensus - The consensus rating for BETA stock is a "Strong Buy," with a mean target of $37, suggesting a potential upside of around 100% from current levels [10]

Core Insights - Vertical Aerospace has signed a strategic three-party Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with AHQ Group and NIDC to develop an Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) ecosystem in Saudi Arabia, aligning with the country's Vision 2030 initiative [1][2][3] Group 1: MoU and Strategic Goals - The MoU aims to explore opportunities in manufacturing localization, commercial eVTOL operations, and investment incentives to support Vertical's certification program and long-term growth [3][4] - Saudi Arabia is identified as a significant emerging market for AAM, with the potential to operate over 1,000 Valo aircraft, which is Vertical's leading commercial aircraft [3][4] Group 2: Role of Partners - AHQ Group will assist in evaluating the necessary industrial, commercial, and investment structures to create a scalable AAM ecosystem in Saudi Arabia [4] - The collaboration aims to position Saudi Arabia as a regional hub for electric aircraft manufacturing and AAM services, contributing to industrial diversification and job creation under Vision 2030 [4][5] Group 3: Aircraft Specifications - The Valo aircraft is designed to operate in hot climates, capable of flying up to 160 km at speeds of 240 km/h with zero operating emissions [6] - Valo is engineered for high payload capability and can perform in temperatures up to 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit), making it suitable for the Saudi Arabian environment [6][11] Group 4: Company Background - Vertical Aerospace is focused on pioneering electric aviation, developing the Valo as a piloted, four-passenger eVTOL aircraft with zero operating emissions [7][9] - The company has approximately 1,500 pre-orders for Valo from customers across four continents, including major airlines [9]

Core Insights - Vertical Aerospace has been awarded a Proof-of-concept grant by Hatch for developing an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) use case for its Valo aircraft platform, focusing on electric and hybrid-electric vertical flight for medical responses in remote areas around Singapore [1][2][3] Company Overview - Vertical Aerospace is a global aerospace and technology company pioneering electric aviation, with its Valo aircraft being a piloted, four-passenger Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft that produces zero operating emissions [7][10] - The company has approximately 1,500 pre-orders for the Valo aircraft from customers across four continents, including major airlines such as American Airlines and Japan Airlines [10] Project Details - The project will run until April 2026 and involves collaboration with Singapore's Home Team to assess how eVTOL and VTOL aircraft can enhance existing emergency response systems [2][3] - The initiative aims to develop a detailed EMS concept of operations aligned with real operational and regulatory requirements, including conducting proof-of-concept flight demonstrations [8] Industry Context - The initiative aligns with Singapore's efforts to develop the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) industry, supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore [4] - The Dimension X Challenge supports early-stage companies developing dual-use technologies to enhance public safety, with winning companies receiving S$100,000 in funding and access to technical experts [6]

Core Insights - Vertical Aerospace is accelerating its commercial roadmap in Japan through a partnership with Marubeni Corporation, focusing on electric aviation and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) [1][2] Route Network Development - The companies are developing a scalable AAM route network in Japan, with a flagship corridor in the Kansai region that could reduce travel times by nearly 80% compared to ground transport [3] - Plans for piloted demonstration flights in the Osaka Bay area are targeted for 2026, building on momentum from the 2025 Osaka World Expo [2][3] Aircraft Specifications and Regulatory Progress - Vertical's certification aircraft, Valo, is designed to fly up to 160 km at speeds of 240 km/h with zero operating emissions, meeting airliner-level safety standards [4] - The Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) accepted Vertical's application into the type validation program in 2023, with a target for airliner-level safety type certification in 2028 [6] Commercial Commitment and Ecosystem Development - Marubeni has made pre-delivery slot reservation payments for the first 25 out of 200 Valo aircraft, indicating strong confidence in the program [6] - Vertical is engaging with regional partners to develop the necessary operating infrastructure and aftermarket support in Japan [6] Market Opportunities - The AAM services will provide rapid access from urban centers to scenic destinations and support transportation for major events, enhancing tourism and logistics [5] - Essential services such as emergency medical transport will also benefit from the AAM network, particularly in the Osaka-Hyogo districts [5] Partnerships and Technology - Vertical Aerospace collaborates with leading aerospace companies and utilizes proprietary battery and propeller technology to develop advanced eVTOL aircraft [8][9] - The leadership team at Vertical has extensive experience from top-tier aerospace and automotive companies, enhancing the company's capabilities in aircraft certification and development [9]

Core Insights - Norway has achieved a significant milestone in its transition to low- and zero-emission aviation with the completion of its first electric aviation test project, marking an important step towards sustainable aviation [1][11] Project Overview - The electric aviation test project was conducted over six months, involving regular test flights on a cargo route between Stavanger and Bergen, with a total of 126 flights covering 8,748 nautical miles (16,201 km) and charging 12 MWh [12][5] - The project was a collaboration between Bristow, BETA Technologies, Avinor, and CAA Norway, and was part of Norway's international test arena established to accelerate the introduction of new aviation technologies [11][1] Operational Insights - The BETA ALIA electric aircraft operated by Bristow provided valuable real-world experience in electric aircraft operations, infrastructure, and regulatory frameworks [2][8] - Key learnings from the project include the need for robust charging solutions, winter-adapted infrastructure, and specialized training for fire and rescue services related to batteries and alternative fuels [8][10] Regulatory and Safety Framework - The project demonstrated how new aviation technologies can be safely introduced into a highly regulated environment, emphasizing the importance of cooperation among authorities, airports, operators, and technology providers [3][4] - A Regulatory Sandbox was established to evaluate safety regulations in the context of new technologies, enhancing the safety methodology for innovation settings [6][5] Future Development - The experience gained from this project will inform the next phase of electric aviation development, focusing on integrating electric aircraft into existing airspace and airport systems while ensuring commercial viability [10][8] - The project has generated strong interest both domestically and internationally, highlighting the strategic needs for advancing electric aviation technologies [10][8]

Core Insights - H55 has achieved a significant milestone by completing the first regulator-required and authority-witnessed propulsion battery module certification test sequence, addressing a critical bottleneck in the commercialization of electric aviation [1][2][11] Group 1: Certification and Safety - The successful completion of the EASA-supervised test campaign positions H55 at the forefront of establishing certification-grade, aviation-safe propulsion battery systems, setting standards for future programs [2][6] - H55's propulsion battery module design incorporates monitoring, redundancy, and hazard mitigation at the cell level, ensuring containment of extreme failure conditions in line with aviation safety requirements [5][12] - The test campaign confirmed H55's capability to engineer and manufacture propulsion battery systems to certification standards using regulatory-approved manufacturing lines and supply chains [4][16] Group 2: Market Impact and Adoption - By establishing a repeatable certification pathway, H55 reduces adoption risk for aircraft manufacturers, operators, insurers, and investors, enabling actuarial risk assessment based on validated failure data [6][16] - The certification evidence generated through this campaign supports multiple ongoing customer programs, including the BRM B23 Energic and CAE's all-electric pilot training platforms [7][16] - H55's achievement marks a structural inflection point for electric aviation, significantly reducing risk for stakeholders involved in aircraft manufacturing and operation [11][16] Group 3: Regulatory Foundations and Future Growth - H55 holds both EASA Design Organisation Approval (DOA) and Production Organisation Approval (POA), confirming its competence in certifying electric propulsion systems [24] - The company has developed proprietary datasets for battery cell characterization, enabling aerospace-grade cell qualification and validation of failure modes accepted by authorities [25] - H55's leadership team is focused on scaling technology-driven platforms and ensuring a reliable transition from certified design to repeatable manufacturing, supporting its next phase of industrialization and international growth [19][20]

Core Viewpoint - H55 has successfully completed a series of certification tests for its propulsion battery systems, addressing a major regulatory hurdle in the commercialization of electric aviation [2][11][16]. Group 1: Certification Achievements - H55 is the first company in the sector to complete the required certification tests for propulsion batteries, which were attended by regulatory authorities [2][3]. - The certification campaign, supervised by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), confirms that lithium cells can be safely integrated into aviation propulsion systems [3][5]. - The successful completion of these tests marks a significant step in establishing certified and safe battery systems for aviation, setting standards for future programs [3][4]. Group 2: Technical Innovations - H55's unique energy storage system design incorporates monitoring, redundancy, and risk reduction at the cell level, ensuring containment of extreme failures [6][14]. - The architecture allows for effective protection and optimization of battery efficiency, performance, and long-term reliability, which are essential for certifiable electric aviation [14][18]. Group 3: Market Implications - The certification framework established by H55 significantly reduces the adoption risk for aircraft manufacturers, operators, insurers, and investors, facilitating a more predictable and scalable deployment of electric aviation technologies [7][18]. - H55's successful certification process transforms the previously opaque battery propulsion systems into transparent actuarial assets, enhancing their insurability and regulatory compliance [12][18]. Group 4: Future Developments - The completion of the certification campaign allows H55 to transition from validation to large-scale deployment, enabling the use of certified energy storage systems across multiple platforms [17][19]. - H55's ongoing collaboration with regulatory authorities, including the FAA, aims to expedite certification processes and enhance market presence in the United States [13][21]. Group 5: Company Background - H55 specializes in certified electric propulsion systems and quality-certified energy storage systems for aviation, leveraging over 20 years of experience in electric aviation [19][20]. - The company has designed, built, and flown several electric aircraft, accumulating over 2,000 flight hours without battery-related incidents, which underscores its operational expertise in certification programs [20].

Company Overview - BETA Technologies is an electric aviation company focused on developing and manufacturing electric aircraft and supporting infrastructure, leveraging proprietary propulsion and battery technology for commercial and defense markets [6] - The company offers electric aircraft (ALIA-CTOL, ALIA VTOL, ALIA Defense VTOL), advanced propulsion systems, batteries, charging equipment, and ground support solutions [9] Financial Performance - As of January 23, BETA Technologies had a market capitalization of $5.55 billion, with a revenue of $28.92 million and a net income of -$672.35 million for the trailing twelve months [4] - Revenue for the latest quarter reached $8.9 million, nearly tripling year over year, driven by defense services and earlier-than-expected motor deliveries [10] - Cash and equivalents stood at approximately $688 million at quarter-end, with an additional $1.1 billion in IPO net proceeds expected to be recognized later [10] Investment Activity - Liberty Street Advisors, Inc. disclosed a new position in BETA Technologies, acquiring 999,202 shares valued at $28.19 million, representing 47.15% of its 13F reportable assets under management [2][3] - BETA shares were priced at $25.18 as of January 22, approximately 26% below their November IPO price of $34 [3] Market Position and Growth Potential - BETA Technologies serves various markets including cargo and logistics, medical, defense, and passenger sectors, with customers such as military agencies and commercial logistics operators [9] - The company has logged initial customer deliveries, secured FAA certification milestones, and has a civil aircraft backlog of 891 units valued at $3.5 billion [11] - A $300 million strategic equity investment from GE Aerospace further validates BETA's technology stack and hybrid roadmap [11]