Osaka Selects JAL–Sumitomo JV Soracle to Lead Air Taxis Using Archer’s Midnight
Local agreements focus on building the frameworks required for eVTOL service across Kansai.
Overview
- Osaka Prefecture and Osaka City formally named Soracle to establish air taxi services in the region.
- Soracle plans to use Archer’s Midnight as its core aircraft, making Archer the only U.S. eVTOL manufacturer in Osaka’s rollout.
- The agreements are intended to develop the operational, regulatory, and community frameworks needed for service.
- A Japanese delegation including MLIT Minister Hiromasa Nakano, the JCAB, and the Consul General in San Francisco visited Archer’s headquarters for briefings.
- Earlier steps included a 2024 Archer–Soracle alliance and a Midnight showcase at the Osaka Kansai World Expo, with timelines still contingent on certification and local approvals.