Joby Aviation's acquisition of Blade Air Mobility's passenger business for up to $125 million represents a key moment in the evolution of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and the broader low-altitude economy. This strategic transaction brings together Joby's cutting-edge electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) technology with Blade's established urban air mobility operations, creating immediate market access and accelerating the path to commercial viability.
Advanced Air Mobility AAM
AutoFlight has achieved a groundbreaking milestone in the Low Altitude Economy by completing the world's first offshore oil platform cargo transport mission using a 2-ton electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The operation demonstrates the commercial viability of heavy-lift electric aviation in challenging maritime environments and marks a significant advancement for offshore energy logistics.
On July 18, 2025, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) quietly released its long-anticipated Advisory Circular (AC) detailing certification guidance for powered-lift aircraft. This marks the first comprehensive certification framework for a new civil aircraft category since helicopters were introduced nearly 80 years ago. The new AC advisory circular provides a baseline for manufacturers pursuing type, production, and airworthiness certification of powered-lift vehicles, such as electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
China’s low-altitude economy is experiencing a moment, as homegrown manufacturers like ZeroG Aircraft Industry challenge established global players in the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) market. With Beijing designating six pilot cities for eVTOL operations and the industry valued at nearly RMB 1 trillion in 2024, ZeroG’s three-aircraft strategy positions the Hefei-based startup at the forefront of China’s national low-altitude economy initiative.
The eVTOL industry has reached a point where commercial viability hinges primarily on power generation systems rather than aerodynamic configurations. Although industry discourse frequently centers on the merits of multirotor versus lift+cruise designs, the true competitive advantage emerges from an aircraft's efficiency in generating, managing, and distributing power across its entire operational spectrum.