A French developer of hybrid-electric jets will build its first U.S. manufacturing and assembly plant along Florida’s central coast, company officials announced.
Aura Aero Invests in Daytona Beach Headquarters
Aura Aero — which had said it would establish a manufacturing presence in Florida earlier this year — indicated that it would set up a new headquarters campus at Daytona Beach International Airport, including a 500,000-square-foot aerospace factory.
The plant is expected to build about 100 planes annually and create about 1,000 jobs.
The newly announced $172 million Daytona Beach project would join a 10,000-square-foot hangar currently under construction at nearby Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
The Electric Regional Aircraft
Aura Aero’s debut jet, known as the ERA — or Electric Regional Aircraft — has a range of up to 900 nautical miles using a combination of electric propulsion and jet fuel. The company says the technology reduces carbon emissions by almost 80% compared to typical regional jets.
The ERA can carry as many as 19 people or as much as 1.9 tons of cargo, and can be recharged either on a variety of third-party chargers or on Aura’s own charging system in as little as 30 minutes.
Construction Timetable
The Florida plant, the company said, will make jets for the company’s U.S. customers, which account for the majority of its more than 600 ERA orders to date. Construction at the Daytona Beach site is expected to begin in 2026, and the factory is slated to open in 2028 — the same year the ERA is scheduled to enter service. The aircraft is expected to make its maiden flight in 2026.
Image Source: Auro Aero
