French aircraft developer Aura Aero has opened a US factory on the campus of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, as part of an ambitious plan to produce the world’s first hybrid-electric regional airliner.
The 11,000-sq-ft facility at Embry-Riddle’s Research Park will serve as the company’s US headquarters, delivery, and support center, and marks the start of a larger industrial footprint for the manufacturer on the US Space Coast.
“The opening of Aura Aero’s headquarters at Embry-Riddle’s Research Park marks a significant milestone in our collaboration with an innovative company shaping the future of sustainable aviation,” said Embry-Riddle President P. Barry Butler, Ph.D.
Founded in 2018 at Toulouse-Francazal Airport (TLS) in France, Aura Aero is developing a new generation of efficient aircraft aimed at cutting emissions and making short-haul flying more economical. Its first product line, the Integral family of two-seat aerobatic trainers, will be the initial focus of US production. The aircraft is offered with a Lycoming piston engine and later will be produced in an all-electric version.
The Florida site is the first step toward a much larger goal — production of the company’s 19-seat ERA (Electric Regional Aircraft), a hybrid-electric model designed for regional routes of up to 900 nautical miles. Aura Aero plans to open a 500,000-sq-ft assembly line by 2028, operating in parallel with its plant in France. The project is expected to create more than 1,000 skilled jobs in Florida.
“Florida has long been a leader in aeronautics and space, and the technical expertise of its workforce is a tremendous asset in asserting our leadership in the electric and hybrid-electric aviation sectors,” said Aura Aero President and co-founder Jérémy Caussade.
The company said the US market has quickly become one of its strongest, representing over one-third of total ERA orders, and could grow to about half of global demand as commitments are finalized. Aura Aero’s current letter-of-intent book exceeds 650 aircraft, valued at more than $10.5 billion, the company said.
Florida officials have embraced the project as an economic win for the region. “Today’s announcement by Aura Aero and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is a shining example of the Governor’s leadership in growing Florida’s aviation industries,” said Florida Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly. “This unique partnership embedded into ERAU’s campus will eventually lead to full manufacturing and product delivery, creating hundreds of high-demand jobs in next-generation aviation technology.”
The ERA program targets regional airlines seeking lower-emission aircraft capable of serving short routes economically. Aura Aero describes the design as a pressurized, 19-passenger twin-engine hybrid capable of STOL operations from 2,400-foot runways. Specifications published by the company list a maximum takeoff weight of 19,000 pounds, a payload of approximately 3,770 pounds, and cruise speed of 250 knots. Takeoff will be all-electric, with a hybrid system for cruise flight, combining battery power with a turbogenerator for extended range.
In Europe, Aura Aero is backed by the Occitanie Region, the French Public Investment Bank (BPI), and venture capital firm Innovacom. It has also received funding through the European Innovation Fund and France 2030 programs and is a member of the European Union’s Alliance for Zero Emission Aviation.
Florida’s Space Coast was selected following a collaboration that began at the 2023 Paris Air Show and advanced during the 2024 Farnborough Air Show. The state’s aerospace development agency, Space Florida, has provided support for site development and infrastructure.
Space Florida Board Chair Jeanette Nuñez said the investment “reflects the success of our strategy to attract companies that are redefining how and when the future of flight is built.”
With its US footprint established, Aura Aero joins a growing list of European aerospace firms expanding across the Atlantic to secure FAA certification and tap North American demand. The company expects the first prototype of the ERA to fly in 2027, with certification and entry into service targeted before 2030.
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