AIR Partners with Florida Department of Transportation to Establish U.S. Headquarters and eVTOL Production Hub in Florida

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Smart aircraft developer AIR has announced a partnership with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to establish its U.S. headquarters and eVTOL production and flight operations center at SunTrax, near Orlando. SunTrax is Florida's advanced air and ground transportation research and development facility, and this partnership makes AIR the first advanced air mobility (AAM) company to manufacture and operate eVTOL aircraft in the state.

AIR has already begun operations in approximately 20,000 square feet of space within the 775-acre SunTrax campus and will expand as the business grows. The company has been conducting flight operations near West Palm Beach since August 2025 and plans to launch production of the AIR ONE personal eVTOL aircraft and autonomous heavy-cargo aircraft in the U.S. by the end of this year. As part of its expansion, AIR will relocate flight test programs for both aircraft models to SunTrax, with testing and demonstration flights continuing as programs advance toward production.

AIR CEO and co-founder Rani Plaut stated that advanced air mobility in the U.S. is transitioning from aircraft development to production and real-world operations, and SunTrax provides the infrastructure and support needed to help build the domestic AAM industry. The company already has more than 300 customers in Florida, along with a growing network of partners and suppliers. Plaut noted that Florida boasts one of the world's strongest aviation ecosystems, with leadership actively advancing infrastructure, policy, and resources, and that establishing operations there will accelerate the company's growth.

SunTrax Air, owned and operated by FDOT, is Florida's dedicated facility for AAM research, development, and commercialization. The campus features dedicated airspace, the nation's first AAM aerial test track, vertiports, high-speed aircraft charging stations, and maintenance hangars, and will support AIR's aircraft production, testing, and flight operations.

FDOT Secretary Jared W. Perdue, P.E. stated that AIR's arrival at SunTrax is a key step in Florida's development of "flying cars," and that this partnership will bring aircraft production, testing, and job opportunities to the state while advancing new modes of transportation.

AIR plans to hire locally, supporting the growth of Florida's advanced manufacturing sector. As production and flight operations expand, FDOT will work with AIR to meet its long-term manufacturing needs and support its continued growth within the state.