JetZero Inc. this month announced it will construct its first manufacturing plant at Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, North Carolina, which will produce the company’s Z4 passenger jets.
The 14,500 jobs that the Long Beach-based company says come with the plant make it reportedly the largest jobs announcement in North Carolina’s history. JetZero will work with the state for workforce development and training and has invested nearly $5 billion into the factory, the company added.
North Carolina, the company said, offers a wide range of resources for the aerospace industry, including education, infrastructure and a business-friendly attitude for American companies.
“North Carolina offers the ideal combination of talent, infrastructure and forward-thinking leadership to support our mission to reshape aviation,” said Tom O’Leary, chief executive and co-founder of JetZero, in a statement. “This facility is a critical milestone in bringing our all-wing Z4 to market.”
Based in Long Beach Airport, JetZero’s design uses a so-called blended wing configuration intended to use up to 50% less fuel, in contrast with the mainstream tube and wing airplane design.
North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein hailed the move as befitting of the state’s long history as an aviation hub.
“From first in flight to now the future of flight, North Carolina and our skilled workforce is soaring,” he said in a statement.
The factory will be built in conjunction with Siemens and will feature industrial artificial intelligence-assisted technology to improve cost efficiency for the plant. Construction is set to begin in 2026 with the goal of producing up to 20 Z4 airplanes monthly.
JetZero has also grabbed the attention of multiple big-name airlines, getting investments from Alaska Airlines for an undisclosed number and 200 orders from United Airlines. They also have a contract with the U.S. Air Force for $235 million to develop a full-scale demonstration plane.
They plan to have the demonstration ready by 2027 and commercial use planes ready by the early 2030s.
