Overair inks three partnerships in South Korea, including letter of intent to sell 20 Butterfly eVTOLs
Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) developer Overair has shared details of a successful trip to South Korea that birthed three new partnerships to advance the country’s advanced air mobility (AAM) goals. Along with its new strategic partner Hanwha Systems, Overair has a letter of intent for a purchase of 20 Butterfly aircraft and more.
Overair is an AAM specialist based in Santa Ana, California, that was spun out of Karem Aircraft in 2020. Its team combined decades worth of aerospace experience to develop its flagship eVTOL called the Butterfly, which originally debuted in 2021.
The Butterfly’s current design can carry five passengers plus a pilot, or 1,100 pounds of cargo, and it can reach a top speed of 200 mph – all while traveling about 100 miles on a single charge. Overair hopes to bring this eVTOL to production, where it can serve as alternative transportation to congested metropolitan areas like Los Angeles.
In fact, Overair continues to work alongside Urban Movement Labs (UML) to create a safe, equitable, and sustainable path to eVTOL transportation on its native West Coast.
While Overair continues to develop its eVTOL technologies toward flights in the US, following a fresh round of funding in June of 2022, the company is setting its sights on a new market – South Korea. So far, it has found some early suitors.
Overair looks to Korea to get its eVTOL’s in the air
According to the company, it signed a letter of intent as well as two memoranda of understanding (MOU) with key partners in Korea to accelerate the nation’s AAM goals. Those signings took palace this week during the Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition (ADEX), which was attended by defense officials from over 57 countries around the globe.
Joining Overair at the exhibition was Hanwha Systems – an expert in urban air traffic management (UATM), software management systems, navigation, surveillance, and information hardware, who signed its own MOU with Overair and the self-governing Jeju Province of South Korea earlier this month.
This week’s signings included a letter of intent from HeliKorea for the purchase of 20 Butterfly eVTOLs to be used for medical, executive, and cargo transport, in addition to firefighting, high-voltage power line inspection, and other applications. Overair says it intends to provide eVTOL pilot and maintenence training if and when those Butterfly aircraft are delivered overseas.
Overair also announced a signed MOU with South Korean convergence specialist Daewoo Engineering & Construction. Together, the companies plan to develop a series of AAM networks across East South Asian markets, establish local vertiport sites, and work alongside government authorities to establish regulatory frameworks necessary for commercial AAM operations.
Lastly, Overair also signed an MOU with the Korean Police who look to integrate eVTOL technologies into the agency. Together, the new partners intend to develop and implement AAM operational training, including vertiport integration, pilot training, maintenance, and community education. Overair CEO Ben Tigner spoke to the company’s latest partnerships:
Overair is committed to supporting South Korea’s strong AAM ambitions through partnerships like these that ensure all facets of the ecosystem are considered. Local governments, operators, and infrastructure providers alike will play an integral role as we enter this new era of transportation. We look forward to collaborating with our partners at Hanwha Systems on these exciting new projects, which will bring real benefits to the communities they impact and provide a solid foundation to further AAM adoption across Southeast Asia.
To date, Overair has completed eVTOL propulsion testing, but has yet to deliver its first aircraft. The company states its full-scale prototype is in the final assembly process and flight tests are expected to begin in 2024.
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With its tire-blistering acceleration and record-setting performance, the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra has been getting attention throughout the auto industry, impressing everyone who’s seen it. That “everyone” now seems to include the OG supercar brand, itself.
CarNewsChina posted pictures from a Weibo user that reportedly show a Xiaomi SU7 Ultra exiting the storied Ferrari factory in Maranello, Italy. According to a Chinese blogger going by 西米露在博洛尼亚 (which seems to translate to “Sago Dessert in Bologna”), the prancing horse brand is actively benchmarking the Chinese hypercar for its own upcoming EV.
The SU7 Ultra was definitely coming from inside Ferrari’s facility. After verification, we learned this specific vehicle was officially purchased by Ferrari for testing, and the development of their next-generation electric platform.
Yet another Chinese auto blogger, 苏黎世贝勒爷, claims that Ferrari representatives visited Xiaomi headquarters last year, allegedly to discuss the joint development of next-generation high-performance EV motors.
The Xiaomi SU7 Ultra made its debut last year, promising 1,548 hp, sub 2.0-second 0-60 mph times, and a top speed well over 200 mph – all at a price lower than a Tesla Model S Plaid or Porsche Taycan Turbo GT. The car sold out almost immediately after it was unveiled, racking up some 50,000 orders almost overnight.
The new electric benchmark
In the automotive world, “benchmarking” is a process in which car companies systematically tear down each others’ competitive products to compare everything from sound insulation, vehicle ride and handling, component materials, and even manufacturing methods against their own or against other industry leaders. The goal is to evaluate performance, cost, quality, and other key metrics, effectively figuring out “where they stand” in the market.
If Ferrari really did buy an SU7 to benchmark it against their own upcoming electric supercar, it’s more than just a curiosity – it could mean that the highest tiers of automotive innovation have shifted from West to East. Maybe forever.
Featured image via Xiaomi; sources throughout the post.
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We’re finally getting our first teases of the upgraded 2027 Chevy Bolt, built on GM’s battery/motor platform formerly known as Ultium. So far, so good for the vehicle, which will be revealed later this Fall.
Chevy took to social media today to tease the 2027 Chevy Bolt, saying, “You asked, we listened. The #ChevyBolt is back and better than ever. More this fall. 👀”
Chevy ended the original Bolt program with the 2023 model, which was loved by a loyal group of customers (including myself). Some of the major gripes, including charging speed and rear brake lights, already look to be addressed. Also, a new more aggressive fascia is debuting.
Electrek’s take
GM has done an incredible job keeping the 2027 Bolt under wraps. It will be the first GM vehicle with a native NACS port after the Cadillac Optiq-V, which we spied in Seattle last week.
Hopefully, the new Bolt will have improved charging speeds over and above the 54kW that previous Bolts adhered to. One possible downgrade is that the old Bolt’s amazing wireless CarPlay/Android Auto system will likely be replaced by GM’s move to Android’s built-in experience. For a few years, the Chevy Bolt was the most affordable long-range EV, and it won our 2022 Electrek car of the year for its versatility and price.
I would, of course, like to see the new Bolt as a hot hatchback, but GM CEO Mary Barra has hinted that it will likely take more of the EUV’s SUV form factor. Things like AWD options, SuperCruise, pricing, power and range are yet to be revealed, but stay tuned to Electrek for the latest on Bolt developments.
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On today’s test-acular episode of Quick Charge, it’s a new day and a new Chinese ADAS test for Tesla to conquer – but this one’s got a LOT more pedestrian carnage to parse through! We’ve also got some great e-bike deals from Retrospec and a bladder-busting Hyundai.
Today’s episode is brought to you by Retrospec – the makers of sleek, powerful e-bikes and outdoor gear built for everyday adventure! To that end, we’ve got a pair of Retrospec e-bike reviews followed up by the updated Hyundai IONIQ 6 with nearly 350 miles of range from its updated long-range battery. With that, Hyundai now has the longest range Korean EV on the market, while Texas is adding megawatts of battery energy storage to beef up its troubled grid, and it’s doing so faster and cheaper than ever before.
Plus: Quick Charge listeners can get an extra 10% off the price of their next awesome e-bike by using code ELECTREK10 at retrospec.com!
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If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
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