UK to Establish First Air Taxi Assembly Center

Bristol-based company Vertical Aerospace has announced plans for the United Kingdom's first air taxi assembly center at Cotswold Airport, near Kemble in Gloucestershire. The new facility will focus on building the company's Valo aircraft, described as electric, four-passenger vehicles capable of flying up to 100 miles with no operating emissions.

The announcement was made by the company, which called the venture a "once-in-a-generation opportunity." The new center will add 60,000 square feet of space to Vertical's existing flight test operations at Cotswold Airport. Construction of the aircraft is slated to begin in late 2027, with an initial production target of 25 aircraft per year. Vertical aims to increase this to 900 aircraft annually by 2035. The company reports 1,500 orders for the aircraft, many from airlines, and plans to seek certification for commercial use by 2029.

Minister for Reindustrialisation Blair McDougall stated that the facility "will help turn British innovation into British manufacturing." He added that the assembly center is "exactly the kind of investment we want to see more of as we work to reindustrialise Britain, creating high-skilled local jobs and strengthening our manufacturing base."

Vertical's CEO Stuart Simpson highlighted the significance of the development. "Opening our aircraft assembly centre is an important step in Vertical's transition from prototype developer to aircraft manufacturer," Simpson said. "Bringing a new category of aircraft to market is a once-in-a-generation opportunity and it is especially rewarding to do that here in Great Britain, drawing on the country's proud aviation heritage."

Suzannah Harvey, CEO of Cotswold Airport, expressed her support for the new center, noting it strengthens the airport's role as a hub for aerospace innovation. Plans for a separate, larger production site to accommodate higher-volume manufacturing are expected to be announced later this year.