Flying taxi developer seeks $1. 5 B in damages from rival

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CHICAGO, Aug 11 - Flying taxi developer Archer Aviation is seeking $1.5 billion in damages from Wisk Aero, a rival founded by Boeing and Google cofounder Larry Page's Kitty Hawk Corp, according to a court filing. The stakes in a heated legal dispute could be $100 million less than what Wisk Aero was told by Boeing and Google.

The two have been embroiled in litigation since earlier this year when Wisk Archer accused United Airlines of stealing trade secrets from Electric Vertical Take Off and Landing aircrafts.

Wisk countersued and said in a filing late Tuesday that it intends to hold Archer accountable for its fraudulent extra-judicial smear campaign that has caused substantial damage to Archer, likely to exceed $1 billion.

Wisk did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Archer plans to commercially launch its first electric flying taxi maker in 2024, one of an increasing number of investors and aviation companies launching into the competitive but yet-to be-approved urban air mobility space.

Filing a lawsuit does not give Wisk the free pass to make false statements outside of the process and yet that is exactly what Wisk has been doing, a company spokesperson said.

He said Wisk would continue to seek damages even if Archer drops its claims.

Wisk filed initial lawsuit in April, two months after Archer announced plans to go public through a $3.8 billion merger with Atlas Crest Investment Corp, a special purpose acquisition company.