Swedish hybrid-electric regional aircraft developer Heart Aerospace is moving to the U.S.
The manufacturer on Wednesday announced the relocation of its corporate headquarters from its home country to Los Angeles. It will shutter operations in Sweden, redirecting resources to build up its U.S. team.
The company said the move aims to strengthen Heart’s market presence, accelerate product development, and optimize resource allocation as the firm prepares for crucial flight testing of its prototype aircraft. Heart claims its X1 demonstrator will be the largest electric aircraft to ever take flight, with plans for testing at Plattsburgh International Airport (KPBG) this year.
“Our move to Los Angeles marks a new chapter in Heart Aerospace’s journey—one that prioritizes iterative development and deeper vertical integration,” said Anders Forslund, co-founder and CEO of Heart, in a statement.
Heart’s flagship 30-seat model, the hybrid-electric ES-30, is a regional aircraft designed for a fully electric zero-emission range of 124 sm (108 nm), an extended hybrid range of 249 sm (216 nm), and flexibility to fly up to 497 sm (432 nm) with 25 passengers. The company’s pitch is that it reduces emissions, noise pollution, and operating costs compared to conventional short-haul regional aircraft.
Heart had planned to pursue ES-30 type certification with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) by 2028, with its headquarters firmly established in Europe. However, the company’s relocation signals a shift in focus toward the American market and regulatory framework.
The move to the United States won’t come as a complete surprise to those who follow Heart, which has been steadily building its American presence.
In 2023, it broke ground on a Los Angeles-based research and development hub, appointing a former SpaceX executive to recruit a team of U.S. engineers. More recently, it secured a $4.1 million grant from the FAA’s Fuelling Aviation’s Sustainable Transition (FAST) program to develop its Hybrid Propulsion Automated Control System (HPACS), designed to minimize fuel burn, emissions, and noise.
The X1 demonstrator is expected to make its fully electric first flight in Plattsburgh, New York, this year. Heart is also developing the X2, a refined, preproduction variant of the X1.
“For the X2, we’re developing key technologies like batteries, actuation systems, software, and hybrid-electric hardware in-house,” said Forslund. “This approach allows us to refine and enhance our systems continuously, just as we’ve done with the X1 prototype, which has seen extensive testing and major design updates since its initial rollout in 2024.”
Heart has already gained some traction in the U.S. commercial market, signing a letter of intent with American charter carrier JSX for 50 ES-30 aircraft, with options for an additional 50, in 2023.
“As our customers, partners, and investors are increasingly based in the U.S, we see greater opportunity in focusing our resources here,” Forslund said. “By consolidating our operations in Los Angeles, we can accelerate development, strengthen collaboration, and better position Heart Aerospace for the future.”
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