UK-based VRCO has been developing a four-seat eVTOL aircraft called the Xcraft XP4 since 2015. In April 2021, the company merged with the U.S.-based Airo Group, which also includes various drone ventures and another eVTOL developer called Jaunt Air Mobility. As of October 2021, the development timeline for the all-electric XP4 called for flight testing to begin in 2022 with a view to the type certification process beginning in 2023 or 2024, en route to anticipated service entry in 2025. Early feasibility and power optimization studies were undertaken by the University of Derby's Institute for Innovation in Sustainable Engineering. The company has since started work on the construction of an initial prototype, having previously made multiple scaled models of an earlier two-seat design called the NeoXcraft XP2. Planned flight testing in 2019 and 2020 was apparently deferred due to a lack of finance resulting from delays to a planned Series A funding round and the Covid crisis. 

The merger with The Airo Group led to VRCO's new sister company Aspen Avionics joining the program to develop flight displays and other aspects of the flight controls. According to co-founder and CEO Michael Smith, the company sees both cargo and private transportation as likely applications for the vehicle. The tie-up with Airo has given the British company direct access to the U.S. market and the potential for FAA certification support. It is also seeking EASA certification in Europe. Smith told FutureFlight that VRCO expects to make further announcements about cargo delivery roles and potentially an alliance with a luxury brand (believed to be a carmaker) in 2022.