UPDATE - Archer Announces Commitment to Launching Its Urban Air Mobility Network In Los Angeles by 2024
- Archer, a leader in the Urban Air Mobility
(“UAM”) space commercializing electric vertical takeoff and landing
(“eVTOL”) aircraft, has announced its commitment to launching its first
UAM network in Los Angeles by 2024.
- Archer’s
partnership with the city of Los Angeles will work to address some of
Southern California’s mobility challenges, offering people a new option
to travel in and around dense cities in a fast, safe, sustainable, and
cost-effective manner.
- The news follows the
formation of the Urban Air Mobility Partnership, announced by Los Angeles
Mayor Eric Garcetti in December 2020. A first-of-its-kind initiative in the
U.S. to make Los Angeles the unmistakable leader on Urban Air Mobility, the
program will develop strategies for the integration of UAM into existing
transportation networks and land use policies.
PALO ALTO, Calif., Feb. 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- California-based
Archer, who are designing and developing electric vertical takeoff and
landing aircraft (eVTOL), today announced their commitment to launching
their first Urban Air Mobility (UAM) network in Los Angeles by 2024. Archer
is excited to explore the potential for UAM to address some of Southern
California’s mobility challenges and provide a new option for people to
travel more freely in and around dense metropolitan areas.
Archer’s UAM platform will move people throughout cities in a fast,
safe, sustainable, and cost-effective manner. The fully electric vertical
takeoff and landing aircraft is expected to travel distances of up to 60
miles at 150 mph using technology available today, transforming how people
approach everyday life, work and adventure, while benefiting the
environment and working towards a future zero-emissions world. Archer’s
recently announced merger with Atlas Crest Investment Corporation (NYSE:
ACIC) and a $1bn commercial order from United Airlines, which is subject to
United’s business and operating requirements, values the company at $3.8
billion and puts Archer in prime position to integrate UAM as part of
cities’ future transportation networks.
A demonstration of its
commitment to Los Angeles, Archer is supporting efforts to educate the
city’s residents about the new transportation technology. Los Angeles
Mayor Eric Garcetti announced the Urban Air Mobility
Partnership in December 2020, a first-of-its-kind initiative in the
U.S. to engage and empower residents to shape the future of LA’s
airspace. A collaboration between the Mayor’s Office, the Los Angeles
Department of Transportation (LADOT), and Urban Movement Labs (UML), the
program will develop strategies for the integration of UAM into existing
transportation networks and land use policies to prioritize equity of
access, connections to transit, purpose-driven data sharing, and local
workforce development.
“Our partnership with the City of Los
Angeles will be one of our major milestones in bringing quick, safe,
affordable everyday flight to dense urban locations,” said Adam
Goldstein, co-Founder and co-CEO of Archer.
“In
identifying our first city partnership, it was critical to have a shared
vision when it comes to how people will move around more seamlessly and
with less impact on the environment around them,” added Brett Adcock,
co-Founder and co-CEO of Archer. He added “working with Urban Movement
Labs will be invaluable as we collectively advance our programs ahead of
our first customer flights in 2024.”
“Archer’s commitment
to launch their first eVTOL aircraft in one of United’s hubs means our
customers are another step closer to reducing their carbon footprint at
every stage of their journey, before they even take their seat,” said
Michael Leskinen, Vice President of Corporate Development and Investor
Relations at United Airlines. “We’re confident that Los Angeles is only
the beginning for Archer and we look forward to helping them extend their
reach across all of our Hubs.”
Urban Movement Labs and the
City of Los Angeles plan to collaborate to develop the design and access of
“vertiports,” a new piece of L.A.’s transportation network where
people can go to fly on an urban air mobility aircraft.
“Our
vision is to improve mobility, reduce congestion, create employment, and
promote healthier communities through public and private sector
collaboration,” said Lilly Shoup, Executive Director of Urban Movement
Labs. “Working with companies like Archer which are at the forefront of
technological innovation in the emerging UAM space delivers a unique
opportunity to take the perspective of our programs beyond just the two
dimensions of roads and railways, and into the skies.”
About Archer
Archer’s mission is to advance
the benefits of sustainable air mobility. Archer’s goal is to move people
throughout the world's cities in a quick, safe, sustainable, and
cost-effective manner. Archer is designing and developing electric vertical
takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for use in Urban Air Mobility that can
carry passengers for 60 miles at speeds of up to 150 mph while producing
minimal noise. Archer's team is based in Palo Alto, CA. To learn more,
visit www.archer.com
For
Media
Louise Bristow
C: 818 398 8091
louise@flyarcher.com
archer@launchsquad.com
About Urban Movement Labs
Urban
Movement Labs is a first-of-its-kind mobility-innovation organization that
links government, businesses, and community members to modern technology
solutions to help solve transportation challenges in the City of Los
Angeles. With the support of Los Angeles’ Mayor’s Office, Urban
Movement Labs aims to make Los Angeles the model city for safe,
sustainable, equitable, and efficient movement of people and goods and
replicate these learnings around the world. For more details, please visit:
https://www.urbanmovementlabs.com/ | Twitter: @UrbanMvmtLab
For
Media
Jorge Canez
jorge@urbanmovementlabs.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1c00b9f7-92aa-4dea-b0e0-54c5a6da93f4
