Vertical Aerospace this week grew the order book for its VA-X4 eVTOL aircraft by more than a third, taking the total backlog of prospective sales to 1,350 units and potentially generating revenues of $5.4 billion. Deals signed with helicopter operator Bristow and Japanese trading and investment conglomerate Marubeni Corporation have made the UK company’s four-passenger vehicle the strongest-selling eVTOL in the fast-growing sector.
On September 22, Marubeni placed a “preorder option” for 200 VA-X4s that are to be delivered in 2025. The company also signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly evaluate the requirements for eVTOL operations in Japan with Vertical Aerospace. Announcing the agreement, the partners said they will also evaluate “commercial considerations such as route and network planning, infrastructure requirements, and capacity” while also “engaging with other interested parties who can play a role in launching advanced air mobility [AAM] in Japan.”
