FutureFlight
Infrastructure Developer Says Uber Elevate Vision for Urban Air Mobility Was Unsustainable
Clem Newton-Brown says his Skyportz company wants to support wider applications for eVTOL aircraft in Australia.
Embraer Melbourne
Melbourne in Australia is one of the international cities that Embraer's Eve Urban Air Mobility has in mind for air taxi services using its planned eVTOL aircraft. (Image: Embraer)

A leading proponent of advanced air mobility (AAM) has dismissed as unsustainable the air taxi/ride-hailing business model formerly advocated by Uber through its Elevate platform. Speaking at last week’s Australian Association of Unmanned Systems (AAUS) conference, Clem Newton-Brown, who is CEO of infrastructure developer Skyportz, welcomed what he characterized as the demise of Uber’s “unrealistic vision” for eVTOL aircraft operations.

In December 2020, Joby Aviation acquired Uber Elevate in a deal that saw parent company Uber Technologies invest a further $75 million in the eVTOL aircraft developer (having previously invested $50 million). Joby has not explained how it might exploit the Elevate platform but the company is committed to launching air taxi services in a number of undisclosed cities beginning in 2024.