Michael Amalfitano, president and CEO of Embraer Executive Jets said the OEM brought a combination of key attributes to the aircraft that customers were asking about.
Not everyone likes the concept of evolution. But even the most fundamental creationists will find it hard to argue with Embraer’s Phenom 300EV. The EV stands for evolution. Announced today, it is an upgraded version of the best-selling Phenom 300E.
The Phenom 300EV’s upgrades include: Garmin Emergency Autoland and new runway awareness systems at the front; low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite connectivity; improved cabin temperature control; and a new vacuum lavatory at the back. The maximum range with five passengers rises from 2,010 nautical miles (3,723km) to 2,055 nautical miles and operators can add another 430lbs (195kg) of payload.
“What I am most excited about is the innovations that we are bringing to market with this evolution of the product,” Michael Amalfitano, president and CEO of Embraer Executive Jets tells CJI. “It is already the best, most delivered aircraft in its category, but this evolution is really focused on true meaningful value that improves the customer value proposition and improves the customer experience. We brought a combination of key attributes to the aeroplane that customers were asking about, and we cannot wait to have it showcased.”
The most striking evolution is Garmin Emergency Autoland. In the event of something happening to the pilots, at the touch of a button, Garmin Autoland will work out the safest place to land; fly to it while avoiding known hazards; and explain what is happening to air traffic control and passengers before landing the aircraft. If there are no passengers and Garmin Autoland thinks the pilots are incapacitated, it will activate itself (it can of course be switched off by the pilots).
Embraer has been working on adding Garmin Autoland to the Phenom 300 for several years. To make this possible, Embraer has created its own Multi-Purpose Electronic Controller (MEC). This integrates rudder-by-wire and other electronically controlled aircraft functions. It has also added a new autobrake. Embraer says these improvements will reduce pilot workload.
Because of these changes, it will not be possible to upgrade an existing Phenom 300E to a Phenom 300EV.
Embraer will start delivering Phenom 300EVs in 2028. It is in the process of selling its last retail slots for Phenom 300Es. Once production starts, it will no longer build Phenom 300Es for retail customers.
The Phenom 300EV has a new list price of $13,995,000. This is more than the list price of the Phenom 300E for a basic model, but not far from a high-specification Phenom 300E (where the owner has selected premium options).
The Phenom 300 family has a good reputation for reliability. But Embraer has identified areas where it can be improved – including new lithium batteries for taxi and landing lights. Rather than having a fitted coffee machine, it has a tray and a high-power 1500W outlet that allows operators to use off-the-shelf models.
The full vacuum lavatory uses the same system as Embraer’s Praetors replacing the chemical system used on Phenoms. As with all Phenom 300 aircraft, it is serviced externally.
When you think about any EV, which is a block point evolution of an aircraft, we are going to make sure that when we do something, the innovation is meaningful, that it is additive” says Amalfitano. “It has to be something that is literally adding value to the customer, whether that added value is going to translate into actual residual value or customer experience or both. So that’s how we think about it. And I think we’re one of a kind.”
Embraer delivered the first Phenom 300 in December 2009. In October 2017 it announced an “enhanced” model – the Phenom 300E. This was mainly a cabin upgrade.
For the past 14 years it has been the single most delivered aircraft with more than 930 Phenom 300s and Phenom 300Es built. Embraer delivered 72 Phenom 300s in 2025, up from 65 in 2024. In the first six months of this year, it delivered 35 Phenom 300Es (up from 29 in the same two quarters of 2025).
Embraer is confident that the Phenom 300EV will get certification from Brazil’s Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil (ANAC), the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) this year.
“We did the same thing when we announced the recent Praetor E-Series in February and then had the announcement regarding the Praetor 600E [certification] in April and we just announced the Praetor 500E just a few weeks ago,” says Amalfitano. “We will deliver on that expectation in terms of triple certification in 2026 and a demonstrator in 2026. So, you will have the opportunity to be able to see it for real in terms of its capabilities.”
Embraer has always been good at finding names and the EV designation makes sense. There are also lots of countries where you do not want to be asking for permission to land a revolution.
