Vertical Advances Battery Tech as Rival Joby Hits FAA Milestone

Edgen Stock·Mar 18 2026, 11:36

Share to

Share to

Copy link

Key Takeaways

Vertical Aerospace has brought its proprietary battery production line online, a key step in securing its supply chain for electric aircraft. However, the milestone comes as competitor Joby Aviation accelerates its own path to market, having already secured a crucial Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorization to begin flight testing its production-model aircraft. For investors, this highlights that while manufacturing capability is important, regulatory certification remains the primary hurdle and key value driver in the competitive eVTOL sector.

Vertical Aerospace announced on March 18, 2026, that its battery pilot production line is now operational, de-risking a critical manufacturing component.
Rival Joby Aviation has achieved Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) from the FAA, a more advanced milestone that allows for certification flight testing.
The competitive landscape shows that regulatory approval, not just manufacturing progress, is the decisive factor in the race to commercialize electric air taxis.

Vertical Launches Battery Production Line on March 18

Vertical Aerospace (NYSE: EVTL) confirmed on March 18, 2026, that its battery pilot production line is operational, marking a tangible step forward in its manufacturing capabilities. The line is housed within the company's 15,000 sq ft Vertical Energy Centre (VEC), which has been producing battery systems for piloted flight tests since 2024. By bringing this proprietary technology in-house, Vertical aims to de-risk a critical component of its supply chain and gain greater control over the performance and production of its electric aircraft power systems.

Joby Aviation Accelerates with FAA Flight Testing

While Vertical refines its manufacturing, competitor Joby Aviation is pulling ahead on the critical regulatory front. Joby has received Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) from the Federal Aviation Administration, enabling it to begin official flight testing on its first production-model aircraft. This represents one of the most significant milestones toward achieving FAA type certification, which is required for commercial operations. Joby's development aircraft have already accumulated over 50,000 miles of flight data, and the company is now preparing for FAA pilots to begin their own assessment flights later this year.

Certification Race Outpaces Manufacturing Milestones

The divergent progress between the two companies underscores the primary challenge in the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) industry: regulatory approval is the key bottleneck to commercialization. Joby's progress with the FAA positions it closer to generating revenue and validates its aircraft design in the eyes of regulators. The company is already targeting a commercial launch in Dubai and plans to scale production to four aircraft per month by 2027. For investors, this indicates that while Vertical's in-house battery production is a positive operational development, milestones related to FAA certification remain the most powerful catalysts for value creation in the sector.