MELBOURNE, Fla. - Eve Air Mobility in Melbourne, Fla. needed a supplier for pylons its electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. They found their solution from Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI) in Sacheon, South Korea. Pylons are a key airframe component that support the aircraft’s electric power units and eight lift propellers.
South Korean aerospace manufacturer KAI has entered into an agreement with Eve, a subsidiary of EmbraerX, to supply aerostructure components for Eve's eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft. This marks KAI's formal entry into the advanced air mobility (AAM) market, following CEO Goo Young Kang's designation of space and future air mobility as core future businesses through its 2050 vision declaration last year. KAI recently announced a significant investment in production infrastructure to expand its market share in the rapidly growing AAM market.
KAI joins other notable suppliers such as Aciturri, Crouzet, Thales, Honeywell, RECARO Aircraft Seating, FACC, Garmin, Liebherr-Aerospace, Intergalactic, Nidec Aerospace, BAE Systems, and Duc Hélice Propellers as partners with Eve's eVTOL development effort.
Related: Eve Air Mobility announces urban air traffic management software solution
Eve's eVTOL aircraft features a lift+cruise configuration with eight dedicated propellers for vertical flight and fixed wings for cruising, maintaining consistent component positions throughout flight. The latest concept includes an electric pusher powered by dual electric motors to ensure propulsion redundancy for optimal performance and safety, while also offering advantages such as lower operating costs, simplified structures, and reduced noise.
The company announced plans for its first eVTOL production facility in Taubaté, Brazil, and is currently assembling its first full-scale eVTOL prototype, slated for a test campaign. Deliveries and service are scheduled to commence in 2026.
In parallel, Eve is developing a suite of service and operations solutions, including Vector, an Urban Air Traffic Management software designed to optimize and scale urban air mobility operations globally.
