Toulouse-Francazal Airport: AURA AERO is entering a new phase. Thanks to a new €50 million funding round, grants secured in France and Europe, and financial support from the State of Florida for its US plant, AURA AERO has now brought its total funding to €340 million.
With the building permit secured for its future factory in Toulouse and firm orders already placed for its ERA hybrid-electric regional aircraft, the company is putting all the pieces in place for a transition to industrial-scale production.
This funding will enable AURA AERO to make significant progress on three priorities: the first flight of ERA, ramping up production of INTEGRAL, and expanding drone operations with ENBATA, while establishing the industrial capabilities necessary for their mass production in France (Toulouse) and the US (Daytona Beach, Florida).
At the same time, the granting of the building permit for the future factory at Toulouse-Francazal Airport physically anchors this transformation. Industrialisation is also accelerating in the US, following the opening of a first site, a 16-hectare plot at Daytona Beach International Airport, ready to host ERA’s American factory, which will be funded with the invaluable support of Space Florida.
AURA AERO is no longer just preparing its programmes; it is building the means to produce them at scale.
“AURA AERO is taking things to the next level. Funding, firm orders, and manufacturing facilities are no longer just prospects, they are realities. With leading institutional and industrial partners, we are ready to accelerate and deliver a new generation of aircraft and drones,” said Antoine Blin, Chief of Staff at AURA AERO, who led the fundraising effort.
A Solid Foundation to Support a Long-term Programme
This transaction is backed by a high-profile funding round bringing together major industrial, institutional, and deep-tech players: the French Tech Souveraineté fund managed on behalf of the French government by Bpifrance, the European Innovation Council Fund (EIC Fund), Safran Corporate Ventures, Blast, Innovacom, Florida Opportunity Fund, and EDF Group.
Beyond financing, this commitment gives AURA AERO the stability and credibility needed to establish itself as a long-term industrial player. It also brings to fruition a vision driven from the outset by the priorities of France 2030, supported by the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron: to foster the emergence in France of new industrial champions capable of accelerating the decarbonisation of aviation, driving the country’s reindustrialisation, and embodying, on a European scale, a new generation of industrial scale-ups.
This momentum will continue in terms of both equity and financing for the French plant, with the aim of ensuring the successful launch and industrialisation of its programmes. Alongside the company, strategic, industrial, and institutional partners are not merely financing an ambition; they are supporting the foundations of an aerospace player poised to establish a lasting presence in the industrial landscape.
“We are building much more than just airplanes: we are building a new European industrial player. This milestone gives us the means to achieve our technological ambitions and, above all, to produce them at scale,” concluded Jérémy Caussade, President and co-founder of AURA AERO.
From Roadmap to Industrial Production
The granting of the building permit for the new plant marks a significant turning point: AURA AERO is shifting from a programme development approach to a structured industrial production model. This facility will support the ramp-up of aircraft production, the creation of skilled jobs, and the development of industrial capabilities critical to low-carbon aviation in Europe. At the same time, commercial traction, evidenced by firm orders, validates market demand and secures future volumes.
With this new phase, AURA AERO is aiming for three world firsts:
- The first flight of a hybrid-electric regional commercial transport aircraft, with ERA
- The first certification of a 100% electric aircraft in the CS-23 category, with INTEGRAL E
- The first flight of an ITAR-free MALE drone, with ENBATA
This momentum builds on already strong commercial traction: with over 700 purchase intentions and 20 firm orders for ERA, AURA AERO has reached a decisive milestone. These market commitments not only validate the relevance of its programmes—they also solidify the transition to industrial scale and provide the visibility needed to structure series production.
A New Phase: Execution, Production and Delivery
Backed by mature programmes, committed partners, and structured financing, AURA AERO has the resources to support its development and transition to industrial-scale production.
“France is home to many leaders in the field of aviation decarbonisation. With this funding round and its ambitious yet credible industrial project, AURA AERO has established itself among these champions and exemplifies French excellence in aerospace. I am proud to know that this new aircraft manufacturer has been supported for several years by the government, which has helped it grow. Decarbonising aviation requires established major industrial players, but it also needs startups and new entrants: Safran’s participation in this funding round demonstrates that these two worlds should not be pitted against each other, and that by joining forces, a very low-carbon European aircraft is achievable in the near future,” stated Philippe Tabarot, Minister of Transport.
“AURA AERO perfectly illustrates the ability of our industrial startups to prepare the aerospace ecosystem of tomorrow. By drawing on the excellence of the French and European industrial base, the company demonstrates that disruptive innovation can be sustainably integrated into large-scale production. This is how we will build the industrial champions of the ecological transition and of our sovereignty,” remarked Sébastien Martin, Minister Delegate for Industry.
“This fundraising effort demonstrates France’s ability to foster the emergence of new industrial leaders dedicated to national sovereignty, reindustrialisation, and the climate transition. AURA AERO is fully aligned with this ambition, driven by the France 2030 investment plan, with a clear objective: to develop a low-carbon aircraft by 2030 and support the technologies that will make this transformation possible,” commented Bruno BONNELL, Secretary General for Investment, in charge of France 2030.
“AURA AERO exemplifies Europe’s commitment to building a sustainable and competitive aerospace industry. The European Innovation Council Fund, under Horizon Europe, invests in innovative companies to help them scale up and turn ambitious ideas into concrete solutions. Investing in companies like AURA AERO means investing in technologies that will strengthen Europe’s global leadership in clean aviation, while benefiting citizens across the European Union,” said Ekaterina Zaharieva, Commissioner for Startups, Research, and Innovation.
“The ability of the men and women at AURA AERO to bring their vision of the future of aviation to life on an industrial scale deserves our admiration and renewed confidence. The thousands of investors in the funds we have invested in this human endeavour can be proud to see their savings making such a positive contribution,” commented Jérôme Faul, Chairman of the Executive Board of Innovacom.
“This investment is part of Safran Corporate Ventures’ strategy to support new players focused on innovative technological building blocks for carbon-free aviation, such as hybrid-electric propulsion systems,” stated Florent Illat, Managing Director, Safran Corporate Ventures.
“Participating in AURA AERO’s fundraising effort means supporting a company that is building much more than just an innovation: it is building genuine industrial capacity. Their ambition to design and mass-produce a new generation of aircraft, within a strong European framework, is particularly transformative. At Blast, we are proud to support this journey and contribute to the emergence of a leading industrial player,” said Anthony Bourbon, founder of Blast. Club
“We are proud to support Florida’s cutting-edge aerospace sector as AURA AERO aims to become the leading US manufacturer of hybrid-electric regional aircraft, following the recent opening of the first of its two planned production sites in Florida,” remarked Robert Harvey, President and CEO of Florida Opportunity Fund, Inc.
“EDF’s investment in AURA AERO illustrates our shared commitment to decarbonising aviation and advancing electric aircraft. We are contributing our expertise to define the charging standards and airport infrastructure of tomorrow. Together, we are committed to the electrification of mobility and are shaping a cleaner, more sustainable aviation industry,” said Damien NOTIN, EDF – Regional Representative for Western Occitanie.
