Archer Aviation Triumphs Over Joby with a $21M Acquisition of Lilium’s eVTOL Patent Portfolio
Archer Aviation recently announced a significant acquisition victory, securing approximately 300 patents from the bankrupt German eVTOL developer, Lilium, for €18 million ($21 million) in a competitive bidding process. The California-based air taxi company outbid rivals, including Joby Aviation and Advanced Air Mobility Group, to acquire the intellectual property portfolio.
The patent collection includes crucial technologies for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, covering:
- High-voltage systems
- Battery management
- Advanced aircraft design
- Flight controls
- Electric engines
- Lilium’s signature ducted fan technology
This acquisition expands Archer’s patent portfolio to over 1,000 assets worldwide. “Lilium’s pioneering work advanced the frontier of eVTOL design and technology, and we’re excited to bring their cutting-edge technologies into the fold at Archer,” said Adam Goldstein, Archer’s founder and CEO.
Founded in 2015, Lilium had raised more than $1.5 billion over its decade of operations before filing for insolvency in 2024 due to funding challenges. The acquisition strengthens Archer’s position in the consolidating advanced air mobility sector, with the announcement made during the 2025 NBAA-BACE convention in Las Vegas.