Eviation lays off majority of staff, halts operations
Eviation, the company building the all-electric Alice commuter airplane, has laid off most of its staff as it seeks additional funding to continue developing the airplane.
Two employees who were let go told The Seattle Times that the company was pausing operations indefinitely, and most of the engineering team was gone. CEO Andre Stein responded to The Air Current with a statement. Stein said they were proud of everything they had accomplished in advancing electric flight and the decision was not made lightly, but it was a necessary step to focus on “identifying the right opportunities.
Eviation was founded in 2015 and unveiled its prototype, Alice, at the Paris Air Show in 2017. The full-size Alice prototype was unveiled in 2019, and the same year, The Clermont Group became the majority shareholder in Eviation, allowing the team to focus efforts on engineering and refining design. The team began runway testing in December 2021 and Alice flew for the first time on Sept. 27, 2022. Eviation continued testing, completing wind tunnel testing in March 2024, complementing findings from the first flight in 2022. In April 2024, Eviation completed a Conceptual Design Review of its all-electric Alice aircraft, making a significant step toward commercialization and certification.
The Seattle Times said the company shrank from about 120 employees at the first flight in 2022, down to about 70 people in 2024, and then about 30 before the layoffs.
Eviation Halts Operations, Lays Off Most Staff
Eviation, the company behind the all-electric Alice commuter aircraft, has laid off most of its staff as it seeks further funding. Operations are paused indefinitely, with most of the engineering team gone. Despite significant milestones, including Alice’s first flight in September 2022 and completing wind tunnel testing in March 2024, the move is necessary to refocus efforts on future opportunities. Founded in 2015, Eviation had reduced from 120 employees in 2022 to about 30 before the layoffs. The company aims to advance electric flight and reach commercialization and certification for Alice.
