Is 2027 the Turnaround Year for These 4 EV and Air Taxi Stocks?
2026-10-23 09:30
•John Bromels •The Motley Fool
•• •••• Axe Cap view
Why JSE Investors Should Skip the EV and Air Taxi Hype for Now
Four US-listed EV and air taxi stocks are struggling and not ready for South African investors to jump in.
Rivian, Lucid, Archer Aviation, and Joby Aviation have all been battered in 2026, and their prospects for 2027 hinge on uncertain milestones. Rivian’s Standard R2 SUV launch is promising but pricey and execution risk is high. Lucid’s delayed cheaper model and dire financials make it a risky bet. Archer and Joby are at the mercy of FAA type certification, with timelines and outcomes far from guaranteed. For South African investors, these stories have limited appeal. The USD/ZAR exchange rate might feel pressure if US markets cool further, but direct local exposure is scant. Meanwhile, JSE stalwarts like Barloworld and Motus remain the better way to play manufacturing and industrial innovation locally. If you chase the hype here, be prepared for volatility and losses. This view could be wrong if an unexpected breakthrough or accelerated certification process occurs, but count on delays instead. this is just our opinion and not financial advice
Avoid these US-listed EV and air taxi stocks for now. Instead, focus locally on industrial counters like Barloworld and Motus where innovation is tied to proven business models.
- USD/ZAR
- Barloworld
- Motus
- Faster-than-expected FAA certification for Archer or Joby
- Unexpected successful EV model launches driving US market rally
7/10
Four EV and air taxi stocks—Rivian, Lucid, Archer Aviation, and Joby Aviation—have suffered significant declines in 2026. The article examines whether 2027 could be a turnaround year for each company. Rivian's success hinges on the launch of its affordable Standard R2 SUV, Lucid must achieve profitability with a lower-cost model, while Archer and Joby await critical FAA type certification for their eVTOL aircraft designs.
Our take is based on reporting first published by The Motley Fool.