Archer Aviation completes its high-volume manufacturing facility in Georgia
US-based electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft manufacturer, Archer Aviation (Archer) recently announced the completion of its high-volume manufacturing facility, ARC, located at Covington Municipal Airport in Georgia.
Earlier this week, the company received the certificate of occupancy for the site and has commenced the tooling load-in for its initial manufacturing line.
Production is set to begin in early 2025, with plans to reach a production rate of two aircraft per month by the end of the year.
Scaling up production
Furthermore, developed in partnership with Stellantis, ARC represents a pivotal step in Archer’s transition from research and development to commercial production.
Stellantis is providing essential capital, advanced manufacturing expertise, and personnel to scale the facility, which aims to produce up to 650 aircraft annually by 2030.
The Midnight aircraft will be manufactured at this facility, offering a sustainable, low-noise alternative to ground transportation in congested cities globally.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp hailed the development as a testament to the state’s commitment to innovation and job creation.
“When we announced Archer’s choice to build this new manufacturing facility in Newton County, we knew it was just the start of an incredible relationship,” he said.
“Today’s announcement marks the next step in that journey, reaffirming Georgia’s commitment to working with innovative companies like Archer to create quality jobs and opportunities for years to come.”
In addition, Congressman Mike Collins, a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, expressed enthusiasm.
“The completion of Archer’s manufacturing facility in Covington highlights Georgia’s leadership in innovation, advanced manufacturing, and job creation. I am excited to support this transformative chapter in aviation, which will drive progress, deliver economic benefits for Georgia, and create opportunity for everyone involved with and around this facility,” he remarked.
Commercial production milestone
On his part, Archer’s founder and CEO, Adam Goldstein, credited the swift and efficient construction to the dedication of the company’s team and partners.
“The completion of this facility is a testament to the state of the industry—shifting from R&D into commercialisation. With construction on ARC now complete, our team is focused on the start of production planned for early next year,” said Goldstein.
He added, “From there, it’s all about execution and scaling. I’m incredibly proud of the Archer team and our partners for getting this done so fast and on budget and can’t wait to see our facility begin producing aircraft.”
Likewise, Arnaud Deboeuf, Stellantis’s Chief Manufacturing and Supply Chain Officer emphasised the importance of collaboration.
“Supporting Archer’s electric aircraft growth with our deep manufacturing expertise is a great opportunity for the two companies,” he said.
“Congratulations to the Archer team for this milestone. It is a significant step in our journey together as we take clean mobility to the sky.”
Global expansion plans
Moreover, as Archer progresses towards production in 2025, the company is also expanding its efforts to introduce the Midnight aircraft to international markets.
The company recently signed a multi-party collaboration agreement with key UAE entities to accelerate the launch of electric air taxi operations in the region.
This positions Archer as the first eVTOL aircraft manufacturer in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and to launch the first commercial flying taxi services in Abu Dhabi.
In addition, the company has appointed Dr Talib Alhinai as its UAE Lead, who will play a pivotal role in guiding the company’s ambitious plans to introduce electric air taxis across the UAE.