Archer Aviation acquires Wisk Aero from Boeing in equity swap
TechCrunch Mobility reports on significant shifts in the eVTOL and autonomous vehicle landscape, including major M&A activity and regulatory approvals across the United States.
Archer Aviation has acquired rival Wisk Aero from Boeing in exchange for a 16.5 per cent ownership stake in the company, resolving a protracted intellectual property dispute that began in 2021. The transaction, which also includes Boeing’s sale of digital airspace software firm SkyGrid and drone maker Insitu to Archer, marks a significant consolidation in the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) sector. The deal ends a lawsuit in which Wisk had accused Archer of stealing confidential information, followed by an Archer countersuit seeking $1 billion in damages.
In a separate move within the electric aviation space, Joby Aviation has acquired Resonant Sciences for $500 million to establish a dedicated defence business unit, Joby Defense. Resonant Sciences, which specialises in radio frequency and sensor systems, will operate under the new division as Joby expands its revenue streams beyond urban air taxis. The company stated it remains committed to its original mission of certifying and manufacturing eVTOL aircraft for civilian use while capitalising on opportunities in the defence sector.
In the autonomous delivery segment, Uber has sold its entire stake in Serve Robotics, the autonomous delivery robot company that spun out of Uber more than five years ago. Despite the divestment, Uber and Serve will continue their partnership under a contract that remains in place until 2027, keeping Serve’s delivery robots on the Uber Eats app. The sale came as a surprise to Serve, which only learned of the transaction when Uber’s regulatory filing was published.
Other notable developments in the autonomous vehicle sector include Aurora Innovation and Kodiak AI receiving permits from the California Department of Motor Vehicles to begin testing self-driving trucks on public roads. Meanwhile, Avride reported surpassing 100,000 autonomous rides on the Uber app in Dallas, a milestone achieved over the past two months, although a human safety operator remains required for these trips.
Waymo has also expanded its commercial robotaxi operations in California following approval from the state’s Public Utilities Commission. The company can now charge for rides across a broader territory in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles, with future expansion planned for Sacramento and San Diego. Additionally, electric mobility startup Yulu raised $93 million in a Series C round, and Pony.ai announced plans to deploy 2,000 robotaxis in four European cities in partnership with Uber.
