Vertaxi Matrix 1 (prototype)

Matrix 1 (prototype)
Vertaxi
Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
www.vertaxi.com

Founded in 2021, Vertaxi is located in Zhuhai, Guangdong, China and is a developer of uncrewed and crewed electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) for cargo and passenger advanced aerial mobility (AAM). The company's aircraft are made with independently researched and developed control algorithms, software and hardware verification and autonomous flight system technologies, providing consumers with a safe, cost-effective and intelligent vertical take-off and landing fixed-wing aircraft.

The company completed a second funding round in December 2022 and has so far raised 150 million yuan ($21.8 million) as of February 2023. A member of China’s “100-million-yuan club” (roughly US$14.2M), Vertaxi raised over ¥200M (around US$28.5M) in a Pre-Series B round of financing in September 2024 to advance the development of the Matrix 1 and other eVTOL products. The new investment will also support the establishment of research and development, final assembly, manufacturing, airworthiness and operational bases in the Guangdong, Hong Kong, Macao Greater Bay Area and the Yangtze River Delta region.

The company has stated their goals for aircraft are suburbs before cities, objects before people and isolation before integration. Meaning the first production aircraft will be used for uncrewed air cargo. The next objective will be crewed air cargo service. After that, the aircraft will be manufactured for passenger air taxi service for advanced air mobility (AAM).

Matric 1 passenger and air cargo eVTOL prototype aircraft
The Maxtrix 1 (M1) is a streamlined and futuristic passenger and air cargo eVTOL prototype aircraft. The aircraft will be flown either by remote, autopilot or autonomous piloting and will hold five passengers and their luggage. The aircraft can also be outfitted to hold air cargo and has approximately 3.5 cubic meters of cargo space and is capable of carrying 32 postal parcels.

The aircraft's estimated cruise speed is 200 km/h (123 mph) and the range is 250 km (155 m). The aircraft has an empty weight of 1,500 kg (3,307 lb), has a maximum payload weight is 500 kg (1,102 lb) and has a maximum takeoff weight of  2,000 kg (4,409) lb). The aircraft has sixteen dedicated VTOL propellers and dedicated four tractor propellers (forward flight propellers) and all propellers are located on two booms. Future models will be made for passenger air travel.

The aircraft has one main high-wing with winglets and has a wing span of 15 m (49 ft, 2-1/2 in). The tail is modified from standard aircraft tails with a V forming from the fuselage and at the top of the V are short horizontal wings with winglets. The main wing and tail are both connected to the four booms holding the propellers and electric motors. The aircraft has tricycle fixed landing struts.

The company has a research and development center, an aircraft test site, and an assembly and pilot plant in Jinshan which is on the outskirts of Shanghai. Fcourier Aviation, an internally incubated company, will be used as the assembly and production plant which is located in Zhongshan, a city in the Guangdong Province in southern China.

Future
Vertaxi expects to receive certification for the cargo version of its M1 eVTOL by 2025, with passenger certification anticipated by 2027. In July 2024, the company signed a ¥260M (roughly US$36M) procurement agreement with Yunnan-based Dongshan Xiyang Cultural Tourism Technology Co., Ltd. This includes ¥160M (about US$22M) for M1s to be used in low-altitude tourism, cargo transport and emergency rescue.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: Passenger and air cargo eVTOL prototype aircraft
• Piloting: Remote, autopilot or autonomous piloting
• Capacity: 5 passengers
• Cruise speed: 200 km/h (123 mph)
• Range: 250 km (155 m)
• Empty weight: 1,500 kg (3,307 lb)
• Maximum payload: 500 kg (1,102 lb)
• Maximum takeoff weight:  2,000 kg (4,409) lb)
• Propellers: 16 VTOL propellers, 4 tractor propellers (for forward flight). All propellers are mounted on four booms attached to the main high wing and tail.
• Electric motors: 20 electric motors
• Power source: Batteries
• Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite
• Windows: Panoramic wrap around windows allowing forward, left, right and top visibility for spectacular views with a solid roof above the passenger compartment
• Wings: 1 main high-wing with winglets
• Wing span: 15 m (49 ft, 2-1/2 in)
• Tail: 1 modified elongated tail with a V forming from the fuselage and at the top of the V are short horizontal wings with winglets.
• Landing gear: Tricycle fixed landing struts
• Safety features: Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP), provides safety through redundancy for its passengers and/or cargo. DEP means having multiple propellers (or ducted fans) and motors on the aircraft so if one or more propellers (ducted fans) or motors fail, the other working propellers (or ducted fans) and motors can safely land the aircraft. There are also redundancies of critical components in the sub-systems of the aircraft.

Company Insights:

• Crunchbase
• Pitchbook

Resources:

• Vertaxi website
• Video: Vertax joins a growing list of Chinese eVTOL aircraft startups: evtol news 2022, Flying Car News, Sept. 11, 2022
• Article: Yufengfuture CEO 2023 New Year Letter: Going forward with determination, even if it is far away, we will reach it, Vertaxi, Jan. 1, 2023
• Article: Yufeng will get another round of financing in the next 7 months, and the first machine will roll off the production line in March, Vertaxi, Feb. 22, 2023
• Article: Shanghai firm to test eVTOL aircraft, eying 'air taxi' plans, Shine, Feb. 23, 2023
• Article: Chinese Startup Vertaxi Completes eVTOL Prototype, Aviation Week, Apr. 4, 2023
• Article: Chinese Startup Vertaxi Finishes Air Taxi Assembly, Global Sky Media, Apr. 4, 2023
• Article: Yufeng Mirai's first 2-ton eVTOL rolls off the production line, Vertaxi, Apr. 4, 2023
• Article: Yufeng Mirai’s first two-ton Vertaxi eVTOL rolls off the production line, eVTOL Insights, Apr. 7, 2023