Archer Aviation acquires former rival Wisk Aero from Boeing
Original: Archer buys former rival Wisk Aero
Why This Matters
The deal consolidates two major eVTOL players and signals accelerating industry consolidation as the sector matures.
Archer Aviation announced it will acquire Wisk Aero, SkyGrid, and Insitu from Boeing in exchange for newly issued shares representing approximately 16.5% of Archer's post-deal equity. The deal closes a chapter on a bitter 2021 trade secret lawsuit between the two eVTOL companies.
Electric aircraft startup Archer Aviation has agreed to acquire Wisk Aero and two additional Boeing subsidiaries — airspace management software firm SkyGrid and drone maker Insitu — in an all-stock transaction. Under the terms disclosed in a regulatory filing, Boeing will receive newly issued Archer shares equal to 19.75% of shares outstanding immediately before closing, resulting in approximately a 16.5% post-deal stake.
The acquisition marks a dramatic reversal in the companies' relationship. In April 2021, Wisk sued Archer for what it called "brazen theft" of confidential information and intellectual property. The dispute lasted two years before settling, with Archer agreeing to make Wisk the exclusive provider of autonomous technology and granting Wisk the option to purchase over 13 million shares at $0.01 per share.
Wisk traces its origins to Kittyhawk, an electric aviation startup backed by Google co-founder Larry Page and led by Sebastian Thrun. Its Cora autonomous flying taxi program was spun off into a Boeing joint venture in 2019, renamed Wisk, and became a fully-owned Boeing subsidiary by 2023 after Boeing invested $450 million in early 2022.
Archer, founded in 2018 and publicly listed since 2021, has broadened its focus beyond air taxis into defense, raising $430 million in December 2024 for its Archer Defense program, followed by a $300 million raise from BlackRock and Wellington in 2025.