Archer Aviation (NYSE: ACHR), a leading eVTOL aircraft developer, and Soracle, a new venture with Japan Airlines and Sumitomo Corporation, have partnered to introduce advanced air mobility services in Japan.

Soracle plans to launch electric air taxi services using Archer’s Midnight aircraft, focusing on cities with traffic or geographic constraints. The agreement allows Soracle to order up to 100 Midnight aircraft, valued at $500 million, with pre-delivery payments tied to milestones.

Soracle aims to establish routes in popular areas like Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and Okinawa to create a new aerial transportation network. Both companies are working with Japan’s Civil Aviation Bureau to secure the necessary certifications.

Andrew Cummins, Senior Director of Business Development at Archer stated: “Japan is widely respected for its forward thinking approach to transportation and this investment into advanced air mobility is yet another example of that.”

Archer is designing and developing eVTOL aircraft used to power the next generation of transportation. 

Shares of Archer Aviation trade on the NYSE under the ticker symbol ACHR.