At the 2025 Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) in Hamburg, RECARO Aircraft Seating, in collaboration with Eve Air Mobility, unveiled an innovative seating solution for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. This partnership marks a significant step in the urban air mobility sector, focusing on lightweight, ergonomic seating designed to meet the unique demands of eVTOL flights.
The seats, crafted from high-grade aluminum, titanium and composite materials, are engineered to minimize weight, thereby enhancing the energy efficiency of small electric aircraft. “Eve Air Mobility and RECARO combined their expertise to develop lightweight, ergonomic seating that can support the distinct needs of eVTOL flights,” said Johann Bordais, CEO of Eve. “The urban air mobility industry introduces a new range of engineering challenges, including seating.”
Eve Air Mobility, a spin-off from Brazilian aerospace giant Embraer, selected RECARO in early 2024 to design, certify, and produce seats for its eVTOL air taxi, which is set to enter the market by the end of 2026. The aircraft will feature a 1-2-2 seating arrangement, accommodating four passengers and one pilot, with a planned range of 100 kilometers (60 miles) on a single charge.
Dr. Mark Hiller, CEO of RECARO Aircraft Seating and RECARO Holding, emphasized the importance of collaboration, stating, “The success of a project like this is only possible when there is a strong collaboration, just as there is between RECARO and Eve Air Mobility.”
The eVTOL, equipped with eight vertical rotors and a pusher propeller for horizontal movement, is expected to enter service in 2027. Embraer has been developing the aircraft cautiously, focusing on creating an ecosystem to support its operation. The first unmanned prototype was revealed in 2024, with plans for its maiden flight this year.
By the end of last year, Embraer had received 2,900 letters of intent for the model, highlighting the growing interest in urban air mobility solutions. As the industry evolves, the collaboration between RECARO and Eve Air Mobility represents a pivotal advancement in making eVTOL flights a reality.