June 21, 2023
Reindustrialization and Hiring in France:
The future Industry 4.0 facility, Elixir Aircraft Factory, will manufacture low-carbon aircraft for training purposes starting in 2025, eventually hiring more than 1,000 employees in La Rochelle
France, June 21, 2023 – On the occasion of the International Paris Air Show currently taking place in Le Bourget, Elixir Aircraft, a manufacturer of low-carbon aircraft, Aire Nouvelle, Equans France’s low-carbon real estate development and property management subsidiary, and its partners, announce the signing of a feasibility study contract for the construction of a new factory. Spanning 14,000 m², this energy- and environmentally-efficient industrial site will house all production and assembly operations for the Elixir aircraft.
In response to growing demand for low-carbon training aircraft, Elixir Aircraft is contributing to France’s reindustrialization by making a massive investment in the La Rochelle region. Elixir Aircraft will significantly increase its production capacity—thanks to a brand-new Industry 4.0 factory with exemplary environmental goals—to reach a production rate of more than 300 aircraft per year.
“ The flight training market has reached a turning point. Manufactured in the 1960s and 1970s, the current fleet needs to be replaced. There is an urgent need to replace these aging aircraft to enable flight schools to improve their profitability while addressing climate and industry challenges. With this new Industry 4.0 facility, Elixir Aircraft is positioning itself to become one of the world’s leaders in general aviation while decarbonizing the sector. The Elixir is a high-performance, fuel-efficient, and versatile aircraft, which will make it compatible with sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and, in a later phase, hydrogen. ”