AURA AERO, Inc., the French designer and manufacturer of next-generation electric aircraft, is to build a 500,000 sqft manufacturing and assembly plant in Volusia County at Daytona Beach International Airport.

To meet the needs of the important American market, developing its presence in the United States is an essential step for AURA AERO which is also continuing its industrial roll-out in Europe, notably with the AURA Factory project at Toulouse-Francazal airport.

The announcement of the selection of Volusia County - made at the Brown & Brown headquarters in Daytona Beach - follows the AURA AERO decision in July to narrow down the location of the new facility to the state of Florida. The company had previously considered a number of locations, quickly narrowing the decision to Texas and Florida as potential locations for the stateside manufacturing operations.

AURA AERO CEO Jérémy Caussade is enthusiastic about the area and the strong welcome and support he's received from community leaders and industry and academic partners : “We couldn't be more pleased to partner with the State of Florida, Volusia County, the Daytona Beach International Airport and other key partners, as we advance our mission to design and manufacture headway electric aircraft that link territories and accelerate the decarbonization of aviation.” He added: “This area and its leadership support economic growth and development along with technological advancement, and we're excited to be a part of its future development while providing high-valued jobs that will dramatically change the aviation industry.”

The facility will manufacture and assemble hybrid-electric regional aircraft (ERA) with the goal of producing 100 ERAs per year. Construction is expected to begin in 2026, and the plant is estimated to be operational in Q4 2028 when the company will begin assembling aircraft at its new home at the Daytona Beach International Airport.

According to Embry-Riddle President P . Barry Butler, Ph.D., “Through the generous gifts and support of philanthropists Cici and Hyatt Brown, as well as strong industry partnerships, Embry-Riddle has been able to make transformational expansions and create a career pipeline for students in aviation, aerospace and other STEM-related fields. As an invaluable corporate partner, AURA AERO - an anchor tenant at our Research Park - will continue to be a vital partner with our university and research community to bring its vision to the world.”

“AURA AERO's decision to establish its U.S. headquarters at the Daytona Beach International Airport is a tremendous win for aerospace, aviation, education, the local and regional economy, and the people of Volusia County,” says Volusia County Manager George Recktenwald. “This partnership not only highlights the strength and strategic importance of our airport, it also positions our community as a hub for cutting-edge technology and opens the door for other innovative companies to choose Volusia County”.

Over the past decade, Volusia County has seen tremendous growth including the creation of over 7,000 jobs with a total economic impact of over $2 billion.