Embraer Partners with UI Helicopter to Advance Flying Car Technology in South Korea

Embraer, the world’s third-largest aircraft manufacturer, announced a strategic partnership with South Korean company UI Helicopter to develop urban air mobility solutions in South Korea.

The Brazilian aerospace giant’s subsidiary, Eve Air Mobility, signed a memorandum of understanding with UI Helicopter to provide electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to the Korean market.

The collaboration aims to present technical, operational, and ecosystem requirements to the South Korean government and industry stakeholders. Both companies will work together to establish viable eVTOL operations in South Korea’s urban centers.

Eve will begin the partnership by conducting a comprehensive market study on urban mobility needs in the region. UI Helicopter brings significant aviation expertise to the partnership as an established helicopter operator in South Korea.

The company operates public aviation services including air ambulance and wildfire surveillance helicopters. UI Helicopter also manages a 115,700 m² maintenance and operations center equipped for flight testing and aircraft maintenance.

Eve’s eVTOL design uses eight dedicated propellers for vertical flight and fixed wings for cruise flight. The aircraft employs an electric pusher powered by dual motors that provide redundancy for enhanced safety.

Eve’s Flying Cars Set for 2026 Launch

Eve expects its flying cars to enter commercial service by 2026. South Korea has actively prepared for urban air mobility implementation through initiatives like the K-UAM Grand Challenge.

This phased demonstration program tests UAM vehicle safety and traffic management solutions in urban environments to support commercialization by 2025. Eve’s Urban Air Traffic Management system has already gained adoption within this program.

Eve has established multiple partnerships in South Korea beyond UI Helicopter. The company previously collaborated with Jeju Air to develop eVTOL operations on Jeju Island. Eve also works with Moviation, South Korea’s first Urban Air Mobility service provider.

The global market for urban air mobility could reach approximately $31 billion by 2030. Eve has secured nearly 3,000 pre-orders from 30 customers across 13 countries, valued at approximately $8 billion. The company forecasts revenue of $4.5 billion by 2030 and aims to capture at least 15% of the global market.

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This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief