Energy Efficiency, GHG Emissions, Industrial  -  January 23, 2023

Stellantis Partners to Build Electric Aircraft

Stellantis N.V. is expanding an existing partnership to build electric aircraft that will be manufactured next year. 

The auto company significantly increased its partnership with Archer Aviation Inc. to manufacture Archer’s flagship electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, Midnight.

Stellantis will work with Archer, who recently announced a manufacturing facility in Covington, Georgia at which the companies plan to begin manufacturing the Midnight aircraft in 2024.

The Midnight aircraft are designed to be sustainable and while having an expected payload of over 1,000 pounds that allows it to carry four passengers plus a pilot. With a range of 100 miles, Midnight is optimized for back-to-back short-distance trips of around 20 miles, with a charging time of approximately 10 minutes in-between.

Archer brings its team of eVTOL, electric powertrain and certification experts while Stellantis will contribute advanced manufacturing technology and expertise, experienced personnel and capital to the partnership. This combination is intended to enable the rapid scaling of aircraft production to meet Archer’s commercialization plans, while allowing Archer to strengthen its path to commercialization by helping it avoid hundreds of millions of dollars of spending during the manufacturing ramp-up phase. The goal is for Stellantis to mass produce Archer’s eVTOL aircraft as its exclusive contract manufacturer. 

“We’ve been working closely with Archer for the past two years, and I am continually impressed by their ingenuity and unwavering commitment to deliver,” said Carlos Tavares, Stellantis CEO, in a statement. “Deepening our partnership with Archer as a strategic investor with plans for growing our shareholding demonstrates how Stellantis is pushing the boundaries to provide sustainable freedom of mobility, from the road to the sky.”

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