Archer Aviation has taken a major step in the electric flight sector by acquiring Wisk Aero, the autonomous air taxi company once backed by Boeing. The agreement also includes SkyGrid and drone maker Insitu, broadening Archer's technology base in advanced air mobility.
According to the filing, Boeing will receive newly issued Archer shares equal to 19.75% of the company's pre-closing outstanding shares, leaving it with an estimated 16.5% stake after the transaction closes. The move turns a former competitor into part of Archer's growing platform.
The two companies' relationship has evolved significantly since a 2021 trade secret dispute. A later settlement opened the door to collaboration, with Wisk becoming Archer's exclusive autonomous technology provider. Wisk's roots trace back to Kittyhawk, the electric aviation startup founded by Sebastian Thrun and supported by Google co-founder Larry Page.
Archer, founded in 2018 and publicly listed in 2021, has continued to scale its eVTOL ambitions while also expanding into defense-related aviation. At the same time, the company is advancing its all-electric Midnight aircraft and recently completed a piloted round-trip flight as it prepares for future operations under the eVTOL Integration Pilot Program.
This acquisition could help accelerate the next phase of autonomous flight, bringing software, aircraft design, and airspace systems closer together in one ecosystem. The development may shape how urban air mobility evolves in the years ahead.
