Archer Aviation has significantly expanded its partnership with Amsterdam-headquartered automotive manufacturing corporation Stellantis, joining forces to manufacture Archer's flagship eVTOL aircraft. The goal is for Stellantis to mass produce the Midnight aircraft as its exclusive contract manufacturer.

Stellantis will work with Archer to prepare the developer's facility in Covington, Georgia where they plan to begin manufacturing in 2024. The Midnight is designed to be safe, sustainable, quiet and, with its expected payload of over 1,000 pounds, can carry four passengers plus a pilot. With a range of 100 miles, the Midnight is optimised for back-to-back short distance trips of around 20 miles, with a charging time of approximately 10 minutes in-between.

This partnership will leverage each company's respective strengths and competencies to bring the Midnight aircraft to market. Archer brings its team of eVTOL, electric powertrain and certification experts while Stellantis will contribute advanced manufacturing technology and expertise, experienced personnel and capital. This combination is intended to enable the rapid scaling of aircraft production to meet Archer's commercialisation plans, while allowing Archer to strengthen its path to commercialisation by helping it avoid hundreds of millions of dollars of spending during the manufacturing ramp up phase.

As a further sign of its commitment, Stellantis will provide up to $150 million in equity capital for potential draw by Archer at its discretion in 2023 and 2024, subject to achievement of certain business milestones that Archer expects to occur in 2023. Stellantis also intends to increase its strategic shareholding through future purchases of Archer stock in the open market. These actions, along with the other elements of this expanded partnership, will enable Stellantis to become a long-term, cornerstone investor in Archer.

“We've been working closely with Archer for the past two years, and I am continually impressed by its ingenuity and unwavering commitment to deliver,” says CEO Carlos Tavares. “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.”

“Stellantis' continued recognition of Archer's progress toward commercialisation 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,” adds Archer founder and CEO Adam Goldstein. “Our two companies are taking these important steps together to realise a once-in-a-generation opportunity to redefine urban transportation.”

Stellantis has been a strategic partner to Archer since 2020 through various collaboration initiatives and 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 commercialise its eVTOL aircraft.