The big question: Whether anyone other than rich executives and thrill-seeking tourists will ever fly in them — and that depends on ticket costs.- Most eVTOL companies are targeting fares about equal to an Uber Black trip, which could make them a (relatively) affordable option.The big picture: Urban air mobility is billed as the next big thing in transportation — quiet, electric aircraft skipping over congested roadways.Where it stands: Executives at Joby and Archer, widely seen as the leading U.S. players, remain confident, saying their eVTOLs are moving out of the research and development phase and into early commercialization.Details: During my recent visit to Joby's pilot plant at Marina Municipal Airport in Monterey County, California, workers were mostly assembling the aircraft by hand."