Born in Sweden and now headquartered in the US, Jetson, a pioneering aviation and aerospace company, has successfully secured a $15 million seed round of investment. This significant funding comes from an eclectic group of investors, including tech luminary will.i.am, renowned transportation consultant will.i.am, and Global Angel Investors. Notably, will.i.am, famous for his contributions to the music industry, is also set to become one of the first Jetson pilots, adding to his impressive portfolio of automotive design collaborations with Mercedes-Benz and DeLorean.
Jetson's primary mission revolves around democratizing flight and introducing the Jetson ONE, a personal electric aerial vehicle designed to revolutionize air travel. They plan to launch this innovative flying car soon and have already set their sights on a Series A round to fuel the commencement of initial shipments in 2024. Furthermore, Jetson has ambitious plans to expand its operations into the US market in 2024 and is actively exploring potential locations for its US headquarters.
Jetson CEO Stephan D'haene shared his enthusiasm about this venture, stating, "We approach Urban Air Mobility by developing and bringing to market eVTOL aircraft within existing legislative frameworks. This may be the biggest opportunity in aviation since the Wright brothers took flight. Today, there is an existing market that is a profitable business for a single-seat recreational aircraft. We are starting the first shipments already next year and will open our A-round soon to accelerate our growth."
Co-founder and CTO Tomasz Patan, who is set to conduct the first US test flights in October, expressed his belief in Jetson's mission, saying, "Jetson is on a mission to redefine the future of air mobility and transportation. We are enabling new and exciting ways of travel which will solve many problems, ultimately making our cities a much better place to live. I think the US market is a great opportunity for Jetson."
Jetson ONE, the world's first commercially available electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle, is set to begin deliveries in 2024. This innovative flying car, priced at $98,000 per unit, already boasts over 300 pre-orders. What sets Jetson ONE apart is that it does not require a pilot's license. Instead, Jetson offers comprehensive training through a two-day course. The eVTOL features a lightweight aluminum space frame, inspired by race cars, and a Carbon-Kevlar composite body. Its intuitive joystick controls and advanced flight computer make it easy to learn to operate in just a few minutes.
Jetson ONE is powered by eight electric motors, offering a 20-minute flight time at a top speed of 102 kilometers per hour, with operations relying on high-discharge lithium-ion batteries. It can accommodate a pilot weighing up to 95 kg, with swappable battery canisters that recharge in less than an hour.
Jetson's impressive research and development and production facility in Arezzo, Tuscany, houses a private airfield south of Florence. This state-of-the-art facility includes an industrial center, an 800-meter airstrip ideal for daily flight testing, a customer experience center, and a pilot school.
