Archer's flying taxi makes splashy debut in heated market

The electric motors of flying taxi company Archer Aviation, are seen on one of the wings of their all-electric aircraft from inside a facility in Hawthorne, California, U.S. June 8, 2021. REUTERS/Mike Blake

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Archer Aviation unveiled its first electric flying taxi "Maker" in a Tesla-style debut on Thursday as an increasing number of investors and aviation companies pile into the hot but yet-to-be-approved urban air mobility space.

Interest in zero-emission aircraft that take off and land like helicopters but fly like planes is growing as aerospace companies look for new markets and face pressure to help decarbonize their industry though the battery-operated vehicles.