Eve Air Mobility announced that the company secured a USD$88[1] million loan agreement with Brazil’s National Development Bank (BNDES) to fund the development of the company’s electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft production facility in Taubaté, in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Under the BNDES Mais Inovação program, the financing reinforces BNDES’ commitment to supporting innovative projects and Eve’s advancements in fostering decarbonization and the urban air mobility (UAM) industry.

“We are profoundly grateful for the continued support and confidence that BNDES has shown in Eve as we advance in our mission to reimagine mobility through efficient and sustainable urban flight experiences. This financing will be instrumental in setting up our eVTOL manufacturing facility, which will be not only the first of its kind in Brazil but also powered by clean, renewable energy, aligned with our commitment to sustainability,” said Johann Bordais, CEO of Eve.

READ: Agreement on sustainable aircraft technologies research

The manufacturing facility financing builds upon the successful partnership between Eve and BNDES following the 2022 approval of a $92.5 million line of credit to support Eve’s eVTOL development program. The new funding agreement is structured by sub-credits from domestic and international sources, including the bank’s foreign currency funds, and a maturity of 16 years.

“This financing strengthens Eve’s robust cash position by adding long-term financing aligned with our company profile. As we advance our eVTOL program development and manufacturing efforts, our focus remains on delivering long-term value for our shareholders with an optimal capital structure mixing equity and debt,” stated Eduardo Couto, CFO of Eve.

With an eventual total expected output of up to 480 aircraft per year, Eve plans to expand the site’s production capacity on a modular basis, with four equally sized modules of 120 aircraft per year. This will provide for a disciplined, capital-efficient investment approach as the market grows.

“The financing reinforces the commitment of President Lula’s government to support innovative projects in Brazilian industry, such as air mobility, which uses high technological intensity. The BNDES has the necessary instrument to provide international competitiveness to domestic companies, which is the BNDES Mais Inovação program, which has already approved BRL 8 billion in credits since 2023”, explains the bank’s president, Aloizio Mercadante.

The director of Productive Development, Innovation and Foreign Trade at BNDES, José Luís Gordon, states that “financing the capacity for innovation, with a disruptive solution for urban mobility and decarbonization, is the objective of Plano Mais Produção, the financing arm of Nova Indústria Brasil, to boost the productive sector and ensure that technological development and production occur within the national territory, generating more qualified jobs and income within the country”.

Eve boasts the industry’s largest backlog with letters of intent (LOI) for 2,900 eVTOLs from 30 customers in 13 countries, representing a potential USD$14.5 billion in sales revenue. Its aircraft utilizes eight dedicated propellers for vertical flight and fixed wings to fly in cruise, with no change in the position of these components during flight. The concept includes an electric pusher powered by dual electric motors that provide propulsion redundancy to ensure the highest performance levels, safety, dispatch reliability, and low operation costs.

The company selected all primary suppliers of its eVTOL and rolled out its first full-scale prototype last July. As Eve advances into the next development phase, its eVTOL prototype has been performing a series of tests designed to meticulously assess every aspect of the aircraft’s operation and performance, from flight capabilities to safety features.

Eve takes advantage of Embraer’s 55 years of experience in designing, certifying, and manufacturing state-of-the-art aircraft. Its customers will also benefit from having access to an existing global service and support network, which is critical to ensuring reliable, safe, and efficient UAM operations.