Stellantis and Archer Aviation have provided an update on their partnership, announcing that their joint venture to produce electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft has progressed from the concept phase to the execution phase. The companies are constructing a high-volume eVTOL production facility in Covington, Georgia, as part of their ambitious plan to achieve Urban Air Mobility (UAM) commercialization.
Archer Aviation, founded in 2018, has already established partnerships with major players in the aviation industry, including United Airlines, Stellantis, and the United States Air Force. The company unveiled its eVTOL aircraft called “Midnight” last December, which caught the attention of Stellantis.
In January of this year, Stellantis announced its financial support for the construction of a new facility in the US, aimed at enabling the mass production of Archer’s eVTOLs and their availability for flight by 2024. At the 2023 Paris Air Show, both companies shared the latest progress update, revealing advancements in construction, collaboration, and stock acquisition.
The eVTOL manufacturing facility, situated on approximately 100 acres in Georgia, is currently under construction. Stellantis and Archer intend to leverage their respective expertise in eVTOL design and development, as well as high-volume vehicle manufacturing, to rapidly scale up production in the US. Archer’s CEO, Adam Goldstein, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership’s potential to redefine urban transportation:
“At Archer, our goal is not just to get to commercialization, but to achieve it at scale. High-volume manufacturing is critical to ensuring we can meet this goal, and joining forces with one of the leading mobility companies in the world is helping us realize the once-in-a-generation opportunity we have to redefine urban transportation.”
Stellantis has further strengthened its partnership with Archer by increasing its strategic shareholding through stock purchases on the open market. Although specific details about the size of these stock purchases were not disclosed, Stellantis clarified that it intends to remain a minority shareholder.
Stellantis has also assigned personnel from its own team to work closely with Archer Aviation, focusing on crucial aspects such as manufacturing automation, engineering, supply chain sourcing, and human resources. Together, they aim to launch the Georgia facility by mid-2024. Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis, emphasized the significance of this collaboration:
“We believe this unique partnership is setting the standard for cross-industry collaboration and continues to be a key pillar of our strategy to ensure Stellantis leads the way the world moves, providing freedom of mobility in all ways. With our trusted teams onsite working shoulder-to-shoulder with Archer, I have no doubt that we are on the right path.”
Stellantis also shared its projections for the Georgia facility, with initial manufacturing operations estimated to produce up to 650 eVTOL aircraft per year, with potential for expansion to support a total of 2,300 units. If achieved, this would make the US facility the world’s largest aircraft manufacturing facility by volume.
The partnership between Stellantis and Archer Aviation signifies a significant step forward in the development of eVTOL technology and the realization of urban air mobility. With construction underway and collaboration flourishing, both companies are determined to lead the industry in manufacturing capabilities and revolutionize the way people commute within cities.
