Textron eAviation

Textron's eAviation division is building the first prototype of the four-passenger hybrid-electric vehicle.

The Velis Electro is the world' first certified electric aircraft to make it into commercial production, and most buyers are using it for flight training.

Along with Embraer, the U.S. group is the only established private aircraft maker to so far embrace electric and autonomous technology.

The U.S. group first revealed an early design for the Nexus eVTOL in 2019 and then unveiled a more advanced Nexus 4EX design in 2020.

Pipistrel hopes to begin deliveries of its Velis Electro electric-powered training airplane in the U.S. next year after changes to FAA regulations.

The U.S. aerospace group has used its Nexus eVTOL design as a technology testbed, but the head of its eAviation team says it has yet to prove the business case for launching the program.

Rob Scholl reports directly to Textron chairman and CEO Scott Donnelly as senior v-p for the division.