In a captivating turn of events, two fierce competitors in the race to revolutionize all-electric aircraft production have reached a groundbreaking collaboration agreement, effectively putting an end to a trade-secrets lawsuit that was initiated by one of the rivals, Wisk Aero, against the other, Archer Aviation.
The alliance took a surprising twist when Boeing, the parent company of Wisk, made an undisclosed investment in Archer. In an exciting twist, Archer has committed to exclusively utilizing Wisk’s cutting-edge self-flying technology in their future aircraft.
Both Wisk and Archer are at the forefront of developing compact electric aircraft capable of vertical takeoff, similar to helicopters, while offering unparalleled airplane-like flight capabilities. These innovative aircraft are designed to transport four passengers over short distances. Notably, Archer’s initial models will have pilots, while Wisk is determined to achieve full autonomy.
Boeing has articulated that its investment in Archer will pave the way for potential integration of Wisk’s autonomous technology in future iterations of Archer’s aircraft. This integration aligns with Wisk’s exclusive position as the autonomy provider for Archer.
Simultaneously, the two companies have resolved their acrimonious legal feud. Wisk had previously filed a lawsuit in federal court against Archer, alleging that two of Archer’s engineers absconded with proprietary information upon their departure from Wisk. In response, Archer retaliated with a lawsuit, accusing Wisk of engaging in a harmful “smear campaign.”
Wisk was initially established as a joint venture between Boeing and Kitty Hawk, an aviation startup supported by Larry Page, the co-founder of Google. However, Kitty Hawk announced its closure last year, leading to Boeing’s complete acquisition of Wisk in May.
While financial details remain undisclosed, it is worth mentioning that Archer has successfully raised over $1.1 billion to date, including a recent $215 million investment from prominent entities such as Stellantis (the parent company of Chrysler, Fiat, Jeep, and Maserati), United Airlines, and various financial institutions.
Furthermore, Archer, a leading force in the realm of all-electric aircraft development, often referred to as air taxis, received exciting news on Thursday: the Federal Aviation Administration has granted approval for them to commence flight tests for their production aircraft, Midnight, in the upcoming weeks. Archer aims to commence commercial operations in 2025, pending F.A.A. approval. Notably, the company also announced a significant agreement last month, entailing the delivery of up to six of its aircraft to the Air Force.
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