Aura Aero to open US facility at Embry-Riddle

At Farnborough International Air Show, Aura Aero Inc. announced the opening at the end of 2024 of its first U.S. facility, in Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s research park, and its decision to build a 500,000 sq. ft manufacturing and assembly plant in Florida.

This decision follows the company’s move last year to create a partnership with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

This significant project was jointly announced at Farnborough Airshow by Florida Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez, P. Barry Butler, Ph.D., president of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Rob Long, Space Florida CEO, and Jérémy Caussade, co-founder and CEO of Aura Aero.

“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,” Nuñez said. “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.”

“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,” said Florida Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly. “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.”

By the end of the year, Aura Aero will occupy a first hangar (10,000 sq. ft.) that will host electric aircraft development activities to prepare a new generation of trainer aircraft as well as the completion and delivery center of the INTEGRAL family of two-seater training aircraft with aerobatic capabilities.

Mori Hosseini, chairman of Embry-Riddle’s Board of Directors, credited Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis with advancing economic development: “The business climate that’s been created is the perfect platform for us to recruit international business leaders to the United States.

The second step of Aura Aero’s deployment in Florida is to develop a 500,000 square foot factory to produce, assemble, test and deliver ERA, the 19-seat hybrid electric commuter aircraft designed to unlock regional air mobility.

“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,” said Space Florida President and CEO Rob Long.

Aura Aero President and co-founder Jérémy Caussade concluded: “We are proud to unveil Aura Aero’s expansion in the USA with the development of our industrial footprint in Florida. Supported by the State of Florida, Space Florida, and our partner Embry-Riddle, we have the perfect ecosystem to bring a new generation of aircraft to our American customers."

The aircraft manufacturer is deploying its global industrial plan for producing and assembling the aircraft close to their main markets. This industrial roadmap had already been initiated by the construction of a factory in Toulouse, France, where the company is headquartered.