by DRONELIFE Staff Author Ian J. McNabb
American VTOL developer Archer Aviation recently announced that automotive giant Stellantis purchased over $8.3 million in stock, showcasing the potential of their Midnight aircraft, set to be produced in partnership with Stellantis. This follows a recent visit by Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares to Archer’s HQ and manufacturing facilities in Santa Clara, California. While this just isn’t a brand new partnership (the business relationship between Archer Aviation and Stellantis dates back to 2021), it represents continued confidence from their massive patron in Archer’s ability to deliver their first retail units by 2025.
While it includes a maximum range of as much as an hour and a 1000 lb payload, the Midnight, which seats as much as 4, is designed for brief trips (20 minutes) followed by 10 minutes of fast charging. Construction on the primary phase of Archer and Stellantis’ ~350,000 square-foot manufacturing facility on a 100-acre site in Georgia is ready to be accomplished later this 12 months. When production begins, the factory will find a way to supply around 650 units a 12 months.
“Archer has established itself as a market leader within the electrification of aviation and we consider that together we are able to usher in the following transportation revolution,” said Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares. “This recent move by Stellantis signals our confidence in Archer’s team and the progress we see firsthand through our deep partnership.”
“We’re on the cusp of adjusting the way in which the world moves within the sky,” said Adam Goldstein, founder and CEO of Archer. “Archer and Stellantis are working side by side to understand a once-in-a-generation opportunity to redefine urban transportation and deliver tremendous value to the world’s cities and our shareholders.”
Archer has announced multiple corporate strategic partners, including United Airlines. Japanese competitor SkyDrive also recently announced an automotive partnership of their very own, this time with Suzuki Motor Company.
More information on Midnight and Archer Aviation is obtainable here.