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Courtroom Battles Threaten eVTOL Certification Push as Investor Confidence Wanes

Litigation among leading air taxi manufacturers is jeopardizing commercial flight approvals and rattling investor confidence in the emerging sector. Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation are locked in mutual legal disputes, with Joby alleging corporate espionage and Archer countering with fraud accusations involving the misclassification of Chinese aircraft components. Separately, Archer has sued British competitor Vertical Aerospace over patent infringement claims related to aircraft design. Vertical denies the allegations. The Trump administration's eVTOL pilot program is designed to expedite certification timelines, yet legal distractions are taking their toll. Archer shares have declined 9% this year and lost over one-third of their value over the last year. Vertical has shed approximately half its market value after a steep 58% drop in 2025. Eve has shed 13% of market capitalization. Industry observers warn prolonged litigation could drain resources and deter investor participation across the sector.