Stellantis N.V. and Archer Aviation Inc. have reached an agreement to manufacture Archer’s flagship electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, Midnight.
Stellantis N.V., a multinational automotive manufacturing corporation and Archer Aviation Inc, an American company commercializing have announced that the companies have agreed to significantly expand their partnership in electric aircraft development. The two companies have reached an agreement to manufacture Archer’s flagship electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, Midnight.
“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, CEO, Stellantis. “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. Supporting Archer with our manufacturing expertise is another example of how Stellantis will lead the way the world moves,” he further added.
Stellantis will work with Archer to construct Archer’s recently announced manufacturing facility in Covington, Georgia, U.S. at which the companies plan to begin manufacturing the Midnight aircraft in 2024. Midnight is designed to be safe, sustainable, and quiet and, with its expected payload of over 1,000 pounds, can 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. The aircraft has a charging time of approximately 10 minutes in-between.
This unique partnership in the urban air mobility industry will leverage each company’s respective strengths and competencies to bring the Midnight aircraft to market. Archer brings its world-class 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.
“Stellantis’ continued recognition of Archer’s progress toward commercialization, and today’s commitment of significant resources to build the Midnight aircraft with us, places Archer in a strong position to be first to market,” said Adam Goldstein, founder and CEO, Archer. “Our two companies are taking these important steps together to realize a once-in-a-generation opportunity to redefine urban transportation,” he further added.
Stellantis has been a strategic partner to Archer since 2020 through various collaboration initiatives, and as an investor since 2021. During this time, Archer has leveraged Stellantis’ deep manufacturing, supply chain, and design expertise in connection with Archer’s efforts to design, develop, and commercialize its eVTOL aircraft.
