Vertical Aerospace VX4 secures future flights with Japanese group pre-orders

The leading Japanese trading and industrial group Marubeni becomes the first Asian customer for Vertical Aerospace’s VX4 electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL).

Today making an undisclosed pre-delivery payment to secure 25 early delivery slots from 200 “conditional pre-orders” it placed in September 2021.

Marubeni is making a pre-delivery payment for the first 25 VX4 out of 200 conditional pre-orders.

Bristol, UK-based Vertical says the commitment “further reinforces Japan’s potential as a key launch market for advanced air mobility” or AAM.

Marubeni is keen to offer eVTOL flights in time for the Osaka World Expo in 2025 and in recent months has conducted “proof-of concept demonstration trials” between Osaka heliport and Wakayama using existing helicopters, but with “future expected AAM prices”.

This, says the company, has addressed “public awareness, acceptance, and requirements” for eVTOL services.

Stephen Fitzpatrick, Vertical Founder and CEO, said “We are delighted to have reached the next milestone in our partnership with Marubeni. Japan is a wonderful country which is embracing the promise of eVTOL, as it will connect cities and regions like never before. We look forward to our joint efforts to build the ecosystem for zero-emissions travel in Japan.”

Satoshi Takechi, General Manager, Aviation, Space & Defense Dept. said “We are proud to have taken
another major step with Vertical Aerospace to introduce VX4 in Japan. I am confident that our continued joint efforts with Vertical Aerospace, such as evaluating the requirements for eVTOL operations and engaging the potential partners under the Joint Working Group, together with this new agreement, will accelerate the development of the AAM market in Japan. Marubeni will further enhance activities to materialize our business, which aims to make air travel more accessible and convenient, while simultaneously contributing to climate change mitigation measures, including low-carbon and decarbonization initiatives.”

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