Embraer to develop Electric Propulsion Systems with Nidec

Unveiled at the Paris Air Show, Brazilian manufacturer Embraer and Japanese Nidec Corporation announced an agreement to create a joint venture company named Nidec Aerospace that would create Electric Propulsion Systems.

This joint venture (JV) would aim to unlock new growth opportunities, aided at first by the advancement of the Urban Air Mobility (UAM) industry. The launch customer for this JV would be Eve Air Mobility, Embraer’s eVTOL subsidiary.

However, it is worth noting that whilst starting in the UAM sector, this JV would also benefit and carry over into regional aircraft and non-eVTOL vehicles in the future.

Nidec Aerospace will be jointly owned, with Nidec owning 51% share and Embraer the remaining 49%.

“Innovation is our future growth driver and a key pillar of our strategic plan,” said Francisco Gomes Neto, President and CEO at Embraer. “The demand for electric propulsion systems is growing exponentially in the aerospace sector,” he continued, adding to this his hopes that this partnership would accelerate the development of advanced products to enable sustainable aviation.

Michael Briggs, Nidec’s Senior Vice President and President of the Motion and Energy Business Unit, added: “This joint venture is a natural expansion of both companies’ respective and continual investments in green technology.”

Nidec is an electric motor manufacturer based in Kyoto, Japan. Brazilian manufacturer Embraer designs and develops aircraft and systems. They will be at Chalet 300 during the Paris Air Show, which runs from 19-22 June.