Over two billion more people will live in cities by 2050: Eve
Based on data from 1,800 cities in the UN’s World Urbanisation Prospects, 1,000 airports, and over 27,000 civil helicopters in service, the inaugural 20-year Global Market Outlook by electric plane maker Eve Air Mobility forecasts a global eVTOL fleet of 30,000 aircraft and projected revenue of USD 280 billion by 2045.
In a press statement, Eve, a 100 c subsidiary of Brazilian aerospace company Embraer, says that the report highlights increased demand for urban air mobility (UAM) across regions due to rising congestion and city population growth.
It adds that the report precedes Eve’s participation in this year’s Paris Air Show, where it will present a full-scale mock-up of its updated Eve-100 aircraft at the Embraer pavilion. The mock-up includes a new cabin design, four-blade propellers, and wheeled landing gear, intended to support safety, access, and operational performance.
As per the statement, the projected 30,000 aircraft are expected to serve around three billion passengers by 2045. The forecast identifies use cases such as city centre transport, airport transfers, tourism, medical services, corporate and charter flights.
The e-VTOL plane maker says that over two billion more people will live in cities by 2050. Additionally, related figures from 2024 show high annual time lost per person due to congestion, with 234 hours in Bengaluru, 226 hours in London, 222 hours in São Paulo, 196 hours in New York, and 112 hours in Johannesburg.
In the statement, the Brazilian company says that it anticipates expansion in Asia-Pacific due to urban growth and income levels.
Eve says that North America is expected to see growth supported by existing infrastructure and investment. Moreover, regulatory complexity may affect progress in Europe, Latin America and the Middle East are identified as markets with specific applications. Africa may adopt UAM as a response to infrastructure challenges and to support tourism.
The aircraft company says that the outlook has identified five main challenges that the urban air mobility sector must address to reach full operational scale. The first is the need for safe operations, with systems required to function reliably as fleet sizes grow. Second, comprehensive regulatory frameworks must be in place to support the development of a broader operational ecosystem. Third, effective air traffic management is essential to enable both integrated flight paths and future uncrewed operations in shared airspace. Fourth, infrastructure needs to support near-term deployment, including the adaptation of existing heliports. Finally, advancements in battery technology are necessary to allow for longer-range and more frequent services.
Johann Bordais
“The Global Market Outlook furthers the excitement and momentum we have seen in collaborating with our customers and municipal partners worldwide. Today, the UAM market benefits from urban growth, higher traffic congestion, and a positive shift towards sustainable mobility. Demand for UAM is strong and marks the beginning of a major shift in how people will move and live in cities worldwide,” says Johann Bordais, CEO, Eve Air Mobility.
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