By the end of this decade, electric air transport is poised to launch with taxis, ambulances, and cargo deliveries.

• Electric air transport vehicles, touted as the future of urban transportation, were among displays of defense jets, passenger airliners, and high-tech aviation equipment at the Singapore Airshow.
• By the end of this decade, Hyundai Motor Group-owned Supernal, Boeing-backed Wisk, and Embraer-owned Eve Air Mobility aim to commercialize their vehicles.

At the Singapore Airshow, electric air transport vehicles were showcased alongside displays of defense jets, passenger airliners, and high-tech aviation equipment, positioning them as the future of urban transportation.

eVTOLs, which are capable of both vertical take-off and landing, can serve as air taxis, transport cargo, provide medical and emergency response services, and function as private vehicles.

Three major eVTOL supporters, Supernal, Wisk, and Eve Air Mobility, all backed by Hyundai Motor Group, aim to commercialize their vehicles by the end of this decade.

One of the first potential uses of eVTOLs, as highlighted, is air taxi services for short-distance travel over cities.

Instead of being stuck in a car for two hours while traveling from the airport to downtown, Eve Air Mobility's CEO, Johann Bordais, announced that they will have an alternative that is fully electric.

Eve is currently developing an air taxi prototype and plans to launch the service by 2026.

Jaiwon Shin, the CEO of Supernal, stated to CNBC that the company can utilize existing infrastructure used by helicopter operators. He explained that while the operations may commence in urban areas, they will eventually expand to serve satellite cities as well.

"There is no existing market, so we are open to all possible use cases," Shin stated.

The S-A2 eVTOL prototype by Supernal, which can carry four passengers and a pilot, is expected to enter the market by 2028.

Wisk is currently developing a self-flying aircraft with capabilities similar to Supernal.

Lilium, a German eVTOL developer backed by Tencent, announced at the Singapore Airshow that it has established a customer service organization for the eVTOL industry, providing services such as battery management, maintenance, and flight support.

U.S. test case, eyes on Asia

To commence eVTOL operations in the U.S., companies stated that they will obtain both regulatory and safety certifications.

Wisk, a company specializing in electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) technology, aims to enter the U.S. market by the end of this decade. Additionally, the company is in discussions with Australian authorities in Brisbane to establish a network for eVTOL operations. Catherine MacGowan, vice president of APAC and air operations at Wisk, made this announcement.

We're working to enhance the mobility network in Brisbane and nearby cities before the 2032 Olympics. That's thrilling, said MacGowan.

MacGowan stated that Wisk has collaborated with to establish operations in Japan and other Asian countries, which is viewed as a promising market by the industry.

Hyundai Motor Group will support Supernal's expansion into South Korea.

In October, Korean Air, South Korea's largest airline, signed a deal with Supernal to construct and establish the infrastructure required for urban air travel and the commercialization of Supernal's eVTOL vehicles in Korea.

Supernal's offerings have also caught the attention of Incheon International Airport, South Korea's primary international airport.

Asia has challenges in developing an ecosystem to support widespread eVTOL operations, despite having many supportive regulators in Japan, Korea, India, Australia, and New Zealand, according to Alan Lim, a director at Alton Aviation Consultancy.

Shin from Supernal anticipates that the eVTOL market will resemble the automotive industry rather than the "commercial aviation industry, where Boeing and Airbus have a global monopoly."

Unlike commercial aviation, where a single form factor can dominate the market, eVTOLs have a wide range of designs and use cases, making it difficult for any one form factor to dominate the market.

"In conclusion, we concur that the eVTOL industry will resemble the automotive industry, with a mix of large and small manufacturers competing for market share, and some focusing on specific niches and applications for their vehicles."

— CNBC's Monica Pitrelli and Lin Lin contributed to this story.