Vertical Aerospace Ltd. (“Vertical” or the "Company") (NYSE:
EVTL; EVTLW), a global aerospace and technology company that is
pioneering zero emission aviation, today announces "Flightpath
2030," its strategy for market leadership before the end of the
decade.
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the full release here:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241112552493/en/
Vertical Aerospace launches 'Flightpath
2030', its strategy for market leadership before the end of the
decade. (Photo: Business Wire)
As Vertical advances its piloted flight test programme, which
has entered into Phase 2, "Flightpath 2030" sets a clear route for
the company’s journey from prototype to production. This strategic
plan builds on the progress made by the business to date and is
underpinned by learnings from its piloted flight test programme,
using a full-sized prototype, positive engagement with its home
regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and robust planning
by Vertical’s Leadership Team.
Stuart Simpson, CEO at Vertical Aerospace, said: “This is
a transformational moment for Vertical as we advance from prototype
to production. Since I became CEO, I’ve been clear that I want
Vertical to lead — not just compete in — the eVTOL sector.
The strategy and goals we are unveiling today provide a new
level of detail on how exactly we intend to get there – the best
team, delivering the safest and most versatile aircraft, with the
most compelling business model in the industry.”
Market leadership through embedding a pioneering culture,
redefining aerospace best practice, intelligent partnering and
being safety obsessed.
From the company’s inception, Vertical set out to focus on
engineering and product excellence, building an aircraft which
meets the highest safety standards and needs of its customers
operating the VX4. Vertical’s customers include some of the world’s
largest airlines, helicopter operators and aircraft lessors.
Vertical’s mission is to pioneer electric aviation, by
integrating four strategic intents – pioneering culture, redefining
aerospace best practice, intelligent partnering and safety obsessed
- into every stage of development and operations. This is reflected
in the strategic goals it has set out to deliver.
Flightpath 2030: by the end of the decade, Vertical is
targeting:
- Delivering at least 150 aircraft to our customers,
achieving significant milestones in high-quality, large-scale
production. Vertical is currently collaborating with leading
aerospace firms including GKN Aerospace, Hanwha, Honeywell,
Leonardo, Molicel and Syensqo, combining this with innovation as
needed, such as with its own proprietary powertrain and propeller
technology.
- Achieving an annual production rate exceeding 200 VX4 units
in Q4 2030, with plans to scale up to greater than 700 units per
year in the medium-term, to deliver against a leading pre-order
book. To achieve this goal, Ross Crawford, who has extensive
experience in early-stage manufacturing ramp ups, including at
Jaguar Land Rover, has been appointed to lead Vertical’s
manufacturing capabilities.
- Positioning Vertical to become sustainably cash generative,
achieving cash break-even in 2030, given the capital efficiency
of its focused OEM business model. Gross profit margin is currently
expected to build to >40% in the following years.
- Certifying the VX4 in 2028, followed by certifying its first
major upgrade in 2030. This update versus previous expectations
follows Vertical’s positive engagement with the CAA as well as its
progress, insights, and growing confidence from the second piloted
flight test plan, which began in 2024 and recently advanced to
Phase 2: untethered, piloted thrustborne flight—a critical
milestone on the path to certification. The aircraft is performing
beyond expectations. The VX4’s high performance powertrain allows
for future capacity increases, giving customers flexibility. While
the current prototype seats four passengers, its cabin width and
robust powertrain enable the potential to accommodate six
passengers and extend its range with minimal adjustments to the
design or certification requirements.
- Maintaining a zero accident rate, certifying to the
highest level of safety – 10-9, the same as for commercial
airliners - whilst upholding our commitment to rigorous safety
standards across the business.
David King, Chief Engineer at Vertical Aerospace, said:
“The eVTOL sector isn’t just another iteration of existing tech;
we’re defining an entirely new category of aircraft.
Innovating in this space demands a radical shift in how we
develop aerospace solutions. In the UK, with its unmatched aviation
heritage, world-class talent, and a thriving ecosystem, we’re
driving that change. Today’s plan sets out exactly how we will make
this new dawn of travel a reality.”
Outlook
Vertical has an industry-leading capital efficient business
model as a focused OEM and has achieved significant key milestones
towards certification including:
- The CAA expanding the scope of Vertical’s Design Organisation
Approval in July, a requirement for the Type Certification of the
VX4 and its entry into service.
- Successfully progressing its full-scale piloted flight test
programme – most recently initiating Phase 2 – untethered
thrustborne.
- Developing proprietary certifiable battery technology in-house
with the sixth-generation packs in use in its current
prototype.
As of September 30, 2024, the Group had £42.8 million/$57.4
million of cash and cash equivalents on hand, based on unaudited
management accounts.
Vertical currently expects the capital required for the business
to deliver its operational goals over the next 12 months to be
broadly consistent with spend over the last 12 months of £78.4
million/$98.0 million. This spend will increase over time as
Vertical approaches certification and then production.
Discussions are ongoing regarding potential third party
investment. Vertical is optimistic that these discussions will
result in a transaction that will provide funding further into 2025
and facilitate future fundraising opportunities. In parallel
Vertical continues to explore all alternative options available
with respect to its funding needs.
In 2025, Vertical plans to:
- Fly full-scale piloted transition.
- Build and fly its third full-scale VX4 prototype.
- Fly full-scale piloted flights demonstrating real-world use
cases.
- Earn additional DOA privileges including Flight Conditions
privilege granted by the CAA.
- Initiate production with long-range parts purchasing.
- Strengthen its operating model and shift its approach to focus
on execution.
Details of webcast
The strategy presentation can be viewed on Vertical’s Investor
Relations website. A webcast will take place today at 0830 ET
(13:30 GMT), hosted by the company’s leadership. To access the
webcast, visit Vertical’s Investor Relations website:
https://investor.vertical-aerospace.com/events-and-presentations/events/.
If unable to attend the webcast, to listen by phone, please dial
+1 646 307-1963 or +1 0800 715 9871; Conference ID 8922591.
About Vertical Aerospace
Vertical Aerospace is a global aerospace and technology company
pioneering electric aviation. Vertical is creating a safer, cleaner
and quieter way to travel. Vertical’s VX4 is a piloted, four
passenger, Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft,
with zero operating emissions. Vertical combines partnering with
leading aerospace companies, including GKN, Honeywell and Leonardo,
with developing its own proprietary battery and propeller
technology to develop the world’s most advanced and safest
eVTOL.
Vertical has c.1,500 pre-orders of the VX4, with customers
across four continents, including American Airlines, Japan
Airlines, GOL and Bristow. Headquartered in Bristol, the epicentre
of the UK’s aerospace industry, Vertical was founded in 2016 by
Stephen Fitzpatrick, founder of the OVO Group, Europe’s largest
independent energy retailer. Vertical’s experienced leadership team
comes from top tier automotive and aerospace companies such as
Rolls-Royce, Airbus, GM and Leonardo. Together they have previously
certified and supported over 30 different civil and military
aircraft and propulsion systems.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within
the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995 that relate to our current expectations and views of future
events. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by
the safe harbour provisions for forward-looking statements
contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of
the Exchange Act. Any express or implied statements contained in
this press release that are not statements of historical fact may
be deemed to be forward-looking statements, including, without
limitation, statements regarding the design and manufacture of the
VX4, the features and capabilities of the VX4, business strategy
and plans and objectives of management for future operations,
including the building and testing of our prototype aircrafts on
timelines projected, including completion of the piloted test
programme phases, selection of suppliers, certification and the
commercialization of the VX4 and our ability to achieve regulatory
certification of our aircraft product with any of our intended
regulators on any particular timeline or at all, our ability and
plans to raise additional capital to fund our operations, the
differential strategy compared to our peer group, expectations
surrounding pre-orders and commitments, our future results of
operations and financial position and expected financial
performance and operational performance, liquidity, growth and
profitability strategies, our plans to mitigate the risk that we
are unable to continue as a going concern, our plans for capital
expenditures, as well as statements that include the words
“expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “project,” “forecast,”
“estimate,” “may,” “should,” “anticipate,” “will,” “aim,”
“potential,” “continue,” “are likely to” and similar statements of
a future or forward-looking nature. Forward-looking statements are
neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown
risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those projected, including, without limitation: our
limited operating history without manufactured non-prototype
aircraft or completed eVTOL aircraft customer order; our history of
losses and the expectation to incur significant expenses and
continuing losses for the foreseeable future; the market for eVTOL
aircraft being in a relatively early stage; our potential inability
to produce, certify or launch aircraft in the volumes or timelines
projected; the potential inability to obtain the necessary
certifications for production and operation within any projected
timeline, or at all; any accidents or incidents involving eVTOL
aircraft could harm our business; our dependence on partners and
suppliers for the components in our aircraft and for operational
needs; the potential that certain strategic partnerships may not
materialize into long-term partnership arrangements; all of the
preorders received are conditional and may be terminated at any
time and any pre-delivery payments may be fully refundable upon
certain specified dates; any circumstances; the inability for our
aircraft to perform at the level we expect and may have potential
defects; any potential failure to effectively manage our growth;
our inability to recruit and retain senior management and other
highly skilled personnel, our ability to raise additional funds
when we need or want them, or at all, to fund our operations; our
limited cash and cash equivalents and recurring losses from our
operations raise significant doubt (or raise substantial doubt as
contemplated by PCAOB standards) regarding our ability to continue
as a going concern; and the other important factors discussed under
the caption “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed
with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March
14, 2024, as such factors may be updated from time to time in our
other filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements
contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof
and accordingly undue reliance should not be placed on such
statements. We disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update or
revise any forward-looking statements contained in this press
release, whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise, other than to the extent required by applicable law.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241112552493/en/
Justin Bates, Head of Communications
justin.bates@vertical-aerospace.com +44 7878 357 463
Vertical Aerospace (NYSE:EVTL)
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