Eve Air Mobility (Eve) and Embraer have announced that the first electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL) production facility will be located in the city of Taubaté, in the state of São Paulo, Brazil.

The manufacturing plant is still subject to the final authorities’ approval, but will be situated on a designated expanded portion of land within Embraer’s existing unit in the city.

Andre Stein, co-chief executive of Eve, said: “When we began our search for a manufacturing location to build our eVTOL, we wanted to reimagine how the aircraft could be built using the latest technology and manufacturing processes, coupled with other aspects such as supply chain and logistics.

“Our objective is to offer safe and reliable products and services to the market and be highly competitive in manufacturing efficiency. The team was tasked with the opportunity to design an optimised assembly line that prioritises safety, quality, efficiency, productivity and sustainability.”

The site in Taubaté benefits from a strategic logistical location, offering easy access via two highways and close proximity to a railroad. Another significant advantage is the region’s proximity to Embraer’s headquarters in São José dos Campos and Eve’s engineering and human resources team, which will facilitate the development and sustainability of new production processes.

Francisco Gomes Neto, president and chief executive at Embraer, said: “This decision is aligned with our growth strategy plan, which is driven by innovation and sustainability.

“We believe in the enormous potential of the global Urban Air Mobility market, and we reinforce our commitment to Eve as one of the major players in this industry.”

In May 2022, Eve announced a partnership with Porsche Consulting to define Eve’s eVTOL global manufacturing, supply chain and logistics macro strategy. Since then, the two companies have researched advanced manufacturing and innovation concepts and used their combined aeronautical and automotive expertise to design a concept of industrialisation for eVTOL aircraft based on high safety, quality, efficiency and customer focus.

Alice Altissimo, vice president of program management and operation at Eve, said: “We are focused on achieving the highest quality standards in eVTOL manufacturing through increased knowledge and consideration of an innovative approach.

“Following extensive research on advanced manufacturing and innovation concepts for over a year, we are now prepared to establish our initial factory for eVTOL production. With confidence in our capabilities, we are equipped to efficiently scale the production volume sustainably to meet the demands of a growing market.”

(Picture above – Taubaté facility. Credit: Eve Air Mobility)