People recognize Henry Ford as the pioneer of today’s automobiles, but his extraordinary vision extends much further. “Mark my words,’’ Ford said in 1940. “A combination airplane and motor car is coming. You may smile, but it will come.”

With the evolution of eVTOLs – Electric Vertical Take-off and Landing aircraft – that day is here. In 2026, the excitement for the growth of the industry is palpable.

“The eVTOL market is expected to experience enormous expansion, increasing from an estimated $1.35 billion in 2023 to 28.6 billion by 2030, driven by the need for a sustainable transportation and congestion system worldwide,’’ according to a report by Intellectia, a financial research business. 

Joby Aviation, one of the industry leaders, is entering the final stages of a five-stage certification path with the Federal Aviation Administration and is demonstrating operational readiness through extensive flight testing in various conditions. In September, Joby completed its first flight between two public airports during which it integrated with commercial air traffic. In December, Joby announced plans to double its manufacturing capacity in the United States.

With the increased demand for eVTOLs, Alpha Metalcraft Group has scheduled several trade shows at which it will showcase its solutions for the burgeoning market. 

AMG will begin the year by attending Transformative Vertical Flight 2026 from January 27-29 in San Jose, Calif. The meeting hosted by the Vertical Flight Society and the VFS Bay Area Chapter will feature two key events: the Vertical Lift Aircraft Design and Aeromechanics Specialists Conference and the 13th annual VOTL Symposium. The San Francisco chapter has been holding the biennial conference since 1974, and will include technical presentations from NASA, the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy and more.

AMG will also attend Verticon, hosted by Verticon Aviation International, which is the world’s biggest vertical aviation conference. The conference in Atlanta from March 9-12 includes 15,000 attendees from 85 nations and more than 600 exhibitors with 60-plus aircraft on display. 

AMG will also showcase its solutions and products at several other events, including:

• Farnborough International Airshow, July 20-24, Hampshire, England
• 2026 Space & Missile Defense Symposium, Aug. 11-13, Huntsville, Ala.
• Turbine Engine Technology and Symposium, Sept. 14-17, Dayton, Ohio.

With its core expertise in deep drawing, electroforming and metal spinning, AMG is able to provide solutions and manufacture products that meet the rigorous demands of the aviation industry. AMG has deep experience working with OEM and Tier 1 aerospace customers to meet the exacting specifications of the aerospace industry, to provide high precision and top-quality components. AMG is also AS9100 and NADCAP certified.

While there are some concerns, especially related to the supply chain and labor shortages, most analysts paint a cautiously optimistic outlook for aerospace and defense in the year ahead. Nearly all analysts believe the eVTOL market will make a quantum leap in ’26. 

For all of Ford’s brilliance, it’s probably not a reach to declare his prediction of a “combination of airplane and motor car” will far exceed his expectations. That day, however, has arrived, and indeed, many people are smiling.