Eve Air Mobility, Embraer’s electric unit, announced that its full-scale “flying car,” an unmanned eVTOL prototype, made its first flight at Embraer’s test facilities in Gavião Peixoto, São Paulo state, Brazil. According to Eve, the flight marks the start of the flight test phase and confirms the integration of critical aircraft systems.

The first flight inaugurates the test program and confirms the functional integration of key technologies, including fifth-generation fly-by-wire and fixed-pitch lifter rotors. After the initial hover flight, the company plans multiple flights with gradual expansion of the test program, aiming for transition to full wingborne flights during 2026.

Eve CEO Johann Bordais called the milestone “historic” and said, “Today, Eve flew. This is a historic milestone for our employees, customers, investors, and the entire ecosystem.”

He added that the flight “validates our plan” and that the company gathered high-fidelity data supporting the path toward certification.

Eve. Five Years Shaping The Future

Eve announced it will build six “conforming” prototypes for the flight test campaign aimed at type certification. It continues cooperation with the Brazilian Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC), the primary certifying authority for the company’s eVTOL, and plans to collaborate with other regulatory authorities and validation bodies. Eve targets type certification, first deliveries, and entry into service in 2027.

On the other hand, Chief Product Officer Jorge Bittercourt stated that the flight gives a “green light” for the program to advance in aspects important to operators, such as “reliability, efficiency, and simplicity,” noting confirmation of critical elements from the lift architecture to flight mechanics.

Meanwhile, Reuters notes Eve has gathered nearly 3,000 pre-orders and expects type certification, first deliveries, and entry into service in 2027, one year later than originally planned. Reuters adds the flight was on schedule for completion by late 2025 or early 2026, and hundreds of flights are planned next year to support the certification process.