Archer begins eVTOL manufacturing facility construction

Archer Aviation Inc. (San Jose, Calif., U.S.) has closed the local incentive transaction and begun construction on its high-volume manufacturing facility project in Covington, Georgia. The planned approximately 350,000 square-foot facility is strategically located adjacent to the Covington Municipal Airport and will be capable of producing up to 650 aircraft per year.

This type of high-volume manufacturing facility is among the first for the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) industry. The Covington facility will be capable of being expanded by an additional 800,000 square feet, which is estimated to support long-term production targets of up to 2,300 aircraft per year (read more about Archer’s estimated rate plans, starting in 2025, “Archer Aviation sets ambitious target to build 250 eVTOLs in 2025”).

The news comes on the heels of Archer’s January 2023 announcement of an expanded relationship with Stellantis (Amsterdam, Netherlands), under which the two companies will join forces to manufacture the company’s production aircraft, Midnight. This partnership will leverage each company’s respective strengths and competencies to bring the Midnight aircraft to market (read “Stellantis to build Midnight eVTOL aircraft with Archer” for additional details).

“We are thrilled to be taking this next important step as we work closely with Stellantis to ramp up our high-volume manufacturing capabilities at this new facility in Covington, Georgia,” Adam Goldstein, Archer’s founder and CEO, says. “The key to unlocking the promise of what the eVTOL aircraft industry can bring is scale, and we are thrilled by the support the State of Georgia and Newton County are providing to this first-of-its-kind facility in such an exciting new industry.”

To mark this milestone, Archer plans to hold a ceremonial event in April in Covington.