Beta to build centre for eVTOL manufacturing in New York
Beta Technologies is a developer of electric aircraft and is based in South Burlington in the US state of Vermont. Beta now intends to invest in the expansion of the facilities at the company’s existing New York site at Plattsburgh International Airport. The investment amounts to USD 41 million from the company’s own budget and US funding of USD 20 million, with Beta committing to create 85 full-time jobs at the site in return.
At Plattsburgh International Airport, the technology company plans to establish a manufacturing and final assembly centre for its own eVOTLs, as well as a permanent flight test and delivery centre.
According to Kyle Clark, founder and CEO of Beta, New York State has a strong workforce and is a leader when it comes to supporting and enabling next-generation transportation. “At BETA, we’re focused on making aviation cleaner and more efficient for the future, and that requires a number of pieces including technology, infrastructure, and a capable workforce. We’ve been developing, flying, and maintaining our electric aircraft at Plattsburgh International Airport since 2017, and in that time, we’ve been overwhelmed by the State and County’s support of our vision.”
Beta Technologies raised 375 million US dollars from investors in a Series B financing round in 2022. At the time, the company stated that it intended to use the funds to continue flight tests of its Alia 250 eVTOL, further refine its electric propulsion systems and expand its charging infrastructure. The financing round at the time was led by TPG’s Rise Climate Fund and Fidelity. In 2021, Beta Technologies had already closed a $368 million Series A financing round and received an order from UPS Flight Forward in the same year.
A month ago, Beta also announced a partnership with Archer Aviation, another US-based electric air cab developer, to introduce an interoperable charging system based on Beta’s charging technology. The two companies aim to drive forward the nationwide introduction of an electric charging network that follows the standards set out by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) and supports the widespread electrification of aircraft.
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