Boeing Invests $450M into Wisk for Self-Flying Electric Air Taxi
January 24, 2022
Wisk, which is developing advanced air mobility (AAM) services and the first all-electric, self-flying air taxi in the U.S., has announced securing $450 million in funding from The Boeing Company. Combined with previous funding, the new investment aims to highlight the strength of Wisk’s strategic partnership with Boeing and their collaboration on critical technology development.
The company said the investment will further advance the development of Wisk’s sixth-generation eVTOL aircraft, a candidate for certification of an autonomous, all-electric, passenger-carrying aircraft in the U.S. The funding will also support the company as it enters an intensive growth phase over the next year as it prepares to launch scale manufacturing and a go-to-market effort.
Within five years of the certification, Wisk said it intends to operate one of the industry’s largest fleets of AAM eVTOL aircraft. Within this timeframe, the company added it anticipates close to 14 million annual flights, bringing time savings to more than 40 million people across 20 cities, and all with zero emissions.
“Wisk is extremely well-positioned to deliver on our long-term strategy and commitment to safe, everyday flight for everyone,” said Gary Gysin, CEO of Wisk. “We are incredibly fortunate to have Boeing as not only an investor but a strategic partner, which provides us with access to a breadth of resources, industry-leading expertise, a global reach, extensive certification experience, and more. As we enter this next stage of our growth, this additional funding provides us with capital while allowing us to remain focused on our core business and our number one priority, safety.”
Wisk began its life in 2010 as Zee Aero, with the mission to deliver safe, everyday flight for everyone, later merging with Kitty Hawk Corporation. After creating the fifth generation of the aircraft, the company was spun out to form Wisk, with an investment from Boeing. The company said it has achieved a number of aviation and industry firsts, including the first flight of an all-electric, autonomous, eVTOL aircraft designed for passenger use in the U.S.
“”With this investment, we are reconfirming our belief in Wisk’s business and the importance of their work in pioneering all-electric, AI-driven, autonomous capability for the aerospace industry,” said Marc Allen, chief strategy officer of Boeing. “Autonomy is the key to unlocking scale across all AAM applications, from passenger to cargo and beyond. That’s why straight-to-autonomy is a core first principle. Boeing and Wisk have been at the forefront of AAM innovation for more than a decade, and will continue to lead in the years ahead.”
More details on Wisk are available at its website.
