Aviation Company Aura Aero Inc. Announces Opening of its First U.S. Facility within Embry-Riddle, and Decision to Locate 500,000-Square-Foot Manufacturing and Assembly Plant in Florida

Today at the Farnborough Air Show in London, Aura Aero Inc. announced its decision to build a 500,000-square-foot manufacturing and assembly plant in Florida. Aura Aero is a French designer and manufacturer of aircraft headquartered in Toulouse, France. This decision follows the company’s move last year to create a partnership with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University at the University’s Research Park in Daytona Beach, which is now open. The new manufacturing facility is estimated to create 1,030 jobs with an average wage of $73,695 and has a projected capital investment of $172.5 million.
 

“The aviation, aerospace and defense industry is a leading economic driver for our state, and today’s announcement by Aura Aero is great news for the many talented Floridians who will be employed in these high-wage jobs,” said Florida Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez. “Congratulations to Aura Aero on their announcement, and congratulations to Embry-Riddle on the opening of a new state-of-the-art facility at the university’s Research Park.”
 

In a news release provided by the Office of the Florida Governor, Florida Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly added, “Thanks to the leadership of Gov. Ron DeSantis, Florida continues to elevate its status as a leader in research and development, and manufacturing. Our aligned and targeted investments in workforce readiness, site readiness, housing readiness and financial readiness creates a network of connected successes that establishes confidence in investors, communities, businesses and families to ultimately call Florida home. The key to the success of this effort was the work of the lieutenant governor and Embry-Riddle who first began working with Aura Aero at the Paris Air Show last July, and we are grateful to see the company selecting Florida.”
 

SelectFlorida’s delegation at the Farnborough Air Show totals more than 150 attendees, including representatives from 19 Florida companies, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and 12 local economic development partners, the news release said. Florida’s leadership present at the air show include Lt. Gov. Nuñez, Commerce Secretary Kelly, Florida Department of Transportation Jared Perdue, and Space Florida President and CEO Rob Long.
 

Mori Hosseini, chairman of Embry-Riddle’s Board of Directors, credited Gov. DeSantis with advancing economic development. “Under the governor’s leadership, the business climate that has been created is the perfect platform for us to recruit international business leaders to the United States,” he said. “These companies have other choices and are continuously being recruited by many different locations. Florida’s continuing wins are a clear result of ongoing efforts by the governor, as well as his amazing team and our legislators, to create and sustain a favorable business climate.”
 

Embry-Riddle President P. Barry Butler, Ph.D., also lauded Lt. Gov. Núñez, as well as Secretary Kelly, Secretary Perdue and Space Florida for their ongoing support. “These kinds of collaborative efforts lead to exceptional outcomes such as the recruitment of Aura Aero to Daytona Beach. This latest development will benefit Floridians as well as Embry-Riddle students who will gain real-world career experience.”
 

Aura Aero’s CEO and co-founder Jérémy Caussade said, “We are thrilled to unveil Aura Aero’s expansion in the United States with the development of our industrial footprint in Florida. Supported by the State of Florida, SelectFlorida and our partner Embry-Riddle, we have the perfect ecosystem to bring a new generation of aircraft to our American customers.
 

“We are very pleased to announce the opening of our first U.S. facility in Florida in the framework of our partnership with Embry-Riddle. We are enthusiastic about the opportunity to develop a new generation of aircraft together with the local community and proud to contribute to Florida’s long history of aviation innovation, by producing the first electric hybrid regional aircraft in the United States.”
 

Transportation Secretary Perdue said in the official state news release, “This is truly exciting news for our great state and the transportation industry. Florida continues to be a leader in transportation because of the persistent effort to stay on the cutting edge of technology and advancements to strengthen our economy now and in the future. We are grateful for the tremendous leadership in Florida from Gov. DeSantis and Lt. Gov. Nuñez, as well as for the strong partnerships with other state agencies and industry partners who work tirelessly to bring great value like this to the Sunshine State.”  
 

Space Florida President and CEO Long said, “Our state has long been at the forefront of aerospace innovation, and Aura Aero’s decision to expand here underscores our commitment to making Florida the global hub for aerospace commerce with access to a robust workforce and an unbeatable location built for business. “We also are thrilled for Embry-Riddle as they continue to connect top-tier talent with innovative companies right here in Florida.”
 

Aura Aero is opening the plant to move closer to its customer base in the United States, and Florida beat Texas, Alabama, Ohio and Georgia for the factory, the state reported. The plant will manufacture and assemble hybrid electric regional aircraft (ERA) with the goal of producing 100 ERAs per year. It is expected to be operational in 2028 and will start assembling aircraft in Q4 of 2028.
 

The news release also reported that, under Gov. DeSantis’ leadership, Florida remains one of the nation’s leading manufacturing states, with Florida manufacturing employment reaching more than 422,000 in September 2023. Learn more about Florida’s manufacturing industry here.

Posted In: Aviation | Institutional News