By landing in Rochefort, VoltAero wants to shake up the market with its hybrid-electric aircraft

2023-10-05 13:05:46

At full capacity, VoltAero plans to assemble nearly 150 aircraft there each year. The aircraft manufacturer founded in 2017 near Royan has just launched the construction of its future final assembly site at Rochefort-Saint-Agnant airport, in Charente-Maritime. The different models of the Cassio, a hybrid-electric device, will be built there from 2025. Cost of the project: 4.4 million euros financed by the Joint Syndicate of La Rochelle-Île de Ré and Rochefort Airports, the State, the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region and the agglomeration of Rochefort.

This industrial building with an area of ​​2,400 m2 will include three assembly lines, a workshop, a logistics area and the VoltAero design office. Around fifty employees will move to the site next year, says the company, which estimates the number of direct jobs created by its activities at 150. The Rochefort agglomeration, which already welcomes Airbus and its approximately 1,000 employees – not counting its subcontractors – is rubbing its hands together and seeing its efforts to attract carriers – large or light – from the aeronautical industry rewarded. .

It will take off and land using electrical energy

With this factory, Jean Botti, co-founder and CEO of VoltAero, believes that his company “once again keeps its promise to bring to the market an aircraft with a refined design, for a safe, quiet, efficient and environmentally friendly flight. “. Available in three models from four to twelve seats, the Cassio is intended for air taxi companies, regional travel, private owners or even light freight, postal deliveries and medical evacuations.

Equipped with electric motors and an internal combustion engine, the Cassio will display a propulsive power of 330 to 600 kilowatts for a range varying depending on the model from 200 to 1,200 km. To achieve this, this plane will take off and land using electrical energy. The thermal engine will only turn on in flight and will recharge the batteries. Its price should oscillate between 1.2 and 3.5 million euros.