Vertical CEO: New Valo eVTOL Will Be ‘People’s Air Taxi’

CEO Stuart Simpson tells BBC Today that passenger flights will cost the ‘same as a cab.’

Jack Daleo

Saturday, December 13, 2025 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Vertical’s newly unveiled Valo has a projected range of 100 miles, with capacity for four passengers at launch and six passengers in the future. [Credit: Vertical Aerospace]

Key Takeaways:

U.K. developer Vertical Aerospace unveiled Valo, its flagship eVTOL aircraft, promoted as "the people's air taxi" with projected costs per seat per kilometer comparable to a cab, challenging the perception of air taxis as a luxury service.
The Valo is an upgraded, quieter, and more aerodynamic successor to the VX4 prototype, designed to achieve airliner-level safety certification by 2028.
Vertical Aerospace plans to launch a network connecting London's Canary Wharf to major airports by 2029, aiming to significantly reduce travel times for commuters.
With approximately 1,500 preorders from airlines and operators globally, the company is positioning Valo to make eVTOL travel a widely accessible and efficient urban mobility solution.

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U.K. developer Vertical Aerospace this week unveiled its flagship electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, Valo, which, according to CEO Stuart Simpson, will be the “people’s air taxi.”

A chief criticism of eVTOL aircraft is their anticipated cost, leading many to characterize electric air taxis as a service for the wealthy. But Simpson said that won’t be the case for Vertical’s flagship model.