Vertical Aerospace has officially opened the first dedicated assembly centre for electric air taxis in the United Kingdom. Located at Cotswold Airport in Gloucestershire, the new 60,000-square-foot facility signifies a move from prototype testing to commercial manufacturing for the Bristol-based firm.
The site will focus on the development of the Valo, an electric aircraft designed to transport four passengers over distances up to 160km. Operations at the facility are expected to commence in late 2027, with an initial output target of 25 units per year. The company aims to scale production to 900 aircraft annually by 2035.
The expansion highlights a growing trend of regional airports serving as critical infrastructure for the Advanced Air Mobility sector. Cotswold Airport management noted that the project reinforces the site’s role as a primary hub for aerospace innovation. Vertical Aerospace, which reports a backlog of 1,500 orders from various airlines, is currently working toward commercial certification by 2029.
This assembly site is intended to serve as a bridge to larger-scale production facilities, which the company expects to detail later this year.