Most air taxis look great in concept, but few are ready for reality. At ONMOTIO, we dive into why most eVTOLs fail — and how our design process ensures they don’t.
The skies are getting crowded, not with flying taxis just yet, but with pitch decks, render videos, and bold promises.
Across the world, startups are racing to launch the next big eVTOL (Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing) aircraft. Investors are pouring in billions. Urban air mobility is the buzzword of the decade. From concept videos of silent vertical lift-offs to glossy images of futuristic air taxis parked in suburban garages, it all looks like we’re on the brink of the Jetsons age.
But here’s the uncomfortable truth,
Most of these eVTOL designs will fail.
And not because the dream is impossible, but because the design process is broken.
At ONMOTIO, we’ve worked with hardware founders and deep-tech innovators to help bring bold, realistic, and scalable products to life. We've seen what works and what doesn't when it comes to building future-facing, investor-ready eVTOL aircraft. In this article, we’ll break down where most designs go wrong, and how we’re approaching it differently.
Some designs promise 300 km of range on batteries that don’t exist. Others feature ultra-quiet propulsion systems that physics simply won’t allow, at least not in this decade.
There’s often a massive disconnect between industrial design and engineering feasibility. Designers fall in love with a visual dream, while engineers get handed blue-sky sketches that can’t fly, literally. It’s a loop of iteration that burns time and money.
Without grounding the concept in the constraints of real-world energy densities, weight limits, and mechanical tolerances, the end result is just that, a concept.
Many eVTOL designs treat passengers as an afterthought. Getting from A to B is not just about thrust and altitude, it’s about comfort, trust, and safety perception.
We’ve seen designs that look like drones, with interiors that feel like MRI machines. Passengers are expected to climb in awkwardly, squeeze between exposed frames, or stare at a minimalist console that offers zero reassurance.
If someone doesn’t feel safe stepping in, they won’t.
Launching a prototype is not the same as preparing for production.
Too many eVTOL projects fail to think beyond the MVP. What materials will scale? Will the production cost per unit align with real customer pricing? What about maintenance? Charging logistics? Ground infrastructure?
Designing for Instagram views and investor buzz is one thing, designing for deployment at scale is another.
Some teams are building for headlines. Every week there’s another flashy render or announcement of a "world-changing" air taxi.
But underneath the surface? No clear product roadmap. No UX testing. No path to regulatory approval. And in many cases, no working prototype.
Investors are starting to see through it. And the ones who don’t will, eventually.
So what does it take to design an eVTOL that won’t end up as just another digital tombstone?
At ONMOTIO, we believe great eVTOL design should follow five key principles:
We don’t just create beautiful renders. We help build hardware that works, and works for the people who’ll use it.
Here’s how our process stands apart:
We begin with a deep understanding of your technical scope, flight range, lift capacity, battery autonomy, redundancy needs, regulations, and infrastructure constraints.
That foundation drives our creative direction. Our concepts aren’t plucked from science fiction, they’re born from feasibility and user empathy.
At ONMOTIO, our structured design workflow is key to success:
Each phase includes checkpoints and client collaboration. No black box, no surprises.
We collaborate across disciplines, mechanical design, UI/UX, electronics integration, and animation, to make sure your aircraft is not just ready to fly, but ready to convince.
Need investor-ready renders? Tech presentations? We’ve got you.
Need a Kickstarter launch kit or visualization for regulatory review? Covered.
We design eVTOLs that help you raise money, without wasting it.
Our deliverables aren’t just pretty pictures. They’re part of a real product strategy,
Before you build your dream aircraft, ask yourself,
If the answers are fuzzy, we can help you sharpen them, and make sure you don't burn your budget chasing the wrong vision.
The dream of personal flight is real. The market is forming. And the technology is catching up.
But most teams won’t make it to the sky, not because they lacked ambition, but because they lacked the right design approach.
At ONMOTIO, we help founders bring bold eVTOL concepts to life with clarity, precision, and creativity. Whether you're just starting or already building, our design team can help you avoid the traps and turn your vision into a flyable, fundable, and scalable product.
ONMOTIO makes product design seamless, guiding you from your initial Concept vision to a first working Prototype.
