In the world of electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle (eVTOL) stocks, two names reign supreme: Archer Aviation (ACHR 2.57%) and Joby Aviation (JOBY 2.05%).
Of course, both are speculative, high-risk stocks trying to dominate a cutting-edge industry, but which stock looks poised to dominate over the next decade?
The little differences
Both Archer and Joby are trying to get final approval of their eVTOL aircraft from the FAA, and both are partnering with Nvidia to develop autonomous flight technology using Nvidia's cutting-edge IGX Thor platform. But, though similar, the companies aren't identical.
Image source: Archer Aviation.
Joby intends to operate its fleet of aircraft as air taxis. It's scheduled to launch air taxi service in Dubai this year, and has made strategic acquisitions of existing helicopter ride-hailing and aerial delivery services from Blade in 2025 and Uber in 2020.
Meanwhile, Archer has claimed to already have a $6 billion order backlog for its aircraft, and hopes to eventually scale up production to 650 aircraft per year. The company has also purchased Hawthorne Airport in Los Angeles, and plans to use it as a testing facility as well as an eventual Los Angeles hub.
Archer has been burning through cash, and it's unclear when it will begin generating revenue from its eVTOL business. Joby, on the other hand, just posted a stellar Q4 2025 earnings report, with surprisingly strong revenue and lower-than-expected cash burn.
NYSE: JOBY
Key Data Points
Although both of these companies are speculative and very richly valued, Joby appears to be better positioned for long-term success over the next decade.
