Archer Aviation has issued an update on the construction status of its manufacturing plant in Covington, Georgia, US, with the project on schedule for completion this year.

The initial phase of construction, which included site grading and laying foundations, was completed earlier this year.  

Currently, the second phase is nearing its end, involving the assembly of exterior walls and roofing.  

The subsequent phases, which consist of outfitting the interior and installing equipment followed by powering up the facility, are expected to advance in the upcoming months.  

Collaboration between Archer and Stellantis remains strong as they work towards the goal of mass-producing Archer's Midnight aircraft. 

Archer CEO and founder Adam Goldstein said: “Thanks to the hard work of the Archer and Stellantis teams, we’re tracking towards completing this manufacturing facility by the end of the year.

"Once complete, we’ll focus on ramping production up to 650 aircraft a year - our goal is to be the first in the eVTOL [electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft] industry to achieve scaled manufacturing.”  

Upon completion, this facility will span close to 400,000ft².

In anticipation of the operational start of the plant, Archer recently presented its Midnight aircraft at Atlantic Aviation's new terminal at DeKalb-Peachtree Municipal Airport.  

The Midnight aircraft features an electric powertrain developed by Archer and aims to provide a more sustainable, quieter, and secure mode of travel compared to traditional ground transportation.  

Capable of reaching speeds up to 150mph, Midnight has the potential to reduce ground travel times from hours to mere minutes.