(COVINGTON, GEORGIA) Archer Aviation is moving from a lab-stage company to an early-stage manufacturer in 2025, with its flagship Midnight eVTOL—an electric aircraft that takes off and lands vertically—now in active build. As of August, the company has six Midnight aircraft in concurrent production, including three in final assembly split between Silicon Valley and Covington, Georgia. Archer aims to reach two aircraft per month by the end of 2025, with a plan to scale its Georgia ARC facility to 650 aircraft annually by 2030.
The 400,000‑square‑foot ARC plant in Covington, Georgia finished construction in December 2024 and began tooling and early manufacturing in early 2025. Company leaders frame this year as a turning point: shifting from development to repeatable production. The target for 2025 is 15–24 aircraft built, a pace aligned with rigorous quality checks as Archer practices automotive‑style production discipline with support from Stellantis.
Production and certification milestones
Archer is in the final stretch of FAA type certification for Midnight, with approval anticipated by the end of 2025. Some analysts warn the timeline could slip into early 2026, reflecting the high bar for a new aircraft category. The FAA is already conducting production certificate reviews and on‑site inspections.
Archer also holds:
– Part 135 Air Carrier Certificate (gained June 2024) — allows it to fly paying passengers.
– Part 141 (February 2025) — permits a structured pilot training program.
For readers tracking the regulatory path, the FAA’s type certification process explains how new aircraft designs are approved for safety and reliability. Official information is available from the FAA here: https://www.faa.gov/aircraft/air_cert/type_certification. This framework underpins Archer’s push to start passenger service soon after type certification, and it ties into the company’s work with a “five‑country certification alliance” — the U.S., UK, EU, Canada, and Australia/New Zealand — to speed acceptance in multiple markets once U.S. approval is granted.
Stellantis remains a central partner, contributing capital, manufacturing know‑how, and personnel. The companies are finalizing an agreement for Stellantis to become the exclusive contract manufacturer for Midnight, which would give Archer access to high‑volume, auto‑grade production systems. That partnership is designed to support the ramp from early builds to larger batches as the order book converts to deliveries.
Archer’s policy environment also turned more supportive. A June 2025 Executive Order from the White House and the U.S. Department of Transportation directs early U.S. eVTOL deployments, potentially starting as soon as 2026. This national push aligns with Archer’s selection as the Official Air Taxi Provider for the LA 2028 Olympic Games, placing Midnight eVTOL aircraft in a high‑profile public setting as the company advances toward commercial service.
International moves are gathering speed. Archer delivered its first Midnight aircraft to the UAE and began flight testing in Abu Dhabi in July 2025. The company expects its first commercial payments from the UAE by year‑end, signaling that early service could begin overseas while U.S. certification wraps up. Additional “Launch Edition” programs are underway in Indonesia and Ethiopia, including a $250 million program in Indonesia and multi‑hundred million frameworks in the UAE.
Financials, acquisitions, and defense work
Key financial and strategic figures:
– Cash on hand: $1.72 billion (Q2 2025)
– Net loss: $206 million (Q2 2025)
– Order book: exceeds $6 billion
– Unit price: each Midnight priced at $5 million
Recent acquisitions:
– Overair’s patent portfolio
– Mission Critical Composites’ defense assets
These moves expand Archer’s technology bench and bolster its defense work, where the company reports demand from four allied programs and expects U.S. Department of Defense deliveries to begin in 2025.
Important: Defense contracts may provide earlier, steadier revenue than large‑scale commercial networks, helping offset development costs during certification.
Global rollout and policy context
Archer’s near‑term plan:
1. Launch late‑2025 services in the UAE and select U.S. cities.
2. Broader rollouts from 2026 to 2028.
3. Showcase operations during the LA 2028 Olympics.
Analysis by VisaVerge.com suggests the five‑country certification alliance could shorten the time between FAA approval and entry into allied markets, giving Archer a clearer path to operate across borders once the first certificate is granted.
Midnight’s aircraft profile:
– Seating: four passengers plus a pilot
– Payload: over 1,000 lbs
– Typical trip range: around 20 miles
– Top speed: up to 150 mph
This design targets short urban hops—airport connectors and city‑to‑suburb links—where time savings are measured in minutes per trip and hours across daily operations.
Manufacturing ramp and operational strategy
From a manufacturing standpoint, Archer says early builds will:
– Validate tools, suppliers, and quality gates
– Step up to higher volumes as parts flow and workforce training stabilize
Stellantis’s role aims to anchor that climb by helping Archer bridge aviation‑grade tolerances with consistent, high‑throughput processes. The Georgia base is central: Covington, Georgia is the hub for scaling Midnight eVTOL from test articles to revenue aircraft.
Production targets and capacity:
– 2025 target: 15–24 aircraft built
– End of 2025 goal: two aircraft per month
– 2030 capacity target: 650 aircraft annually at the ARC plant
Risks, outlook, and the critical gate
Analysts view Archer as a leader in a crowded field due to:
– Strong cash runway
– Strategic partnerships
– Large order book
Persistent risks include:
– Certification schedule slips
– Competition (notably Joby Aviation)
– High capital demands for a new aircraft category
– Typical volatility for pre‑revenue aerospace ventures (Archer’s stock rose more than 200% over the past year, but remains volatile)
Commercial operations hinge on one gate: FAA type certification. Once granted, the expected sequence is:
1. Production certificate approval
2. Pilot training scaling under Part 141
3. Route launches supported by Part 135 authority
In parallel, the June 2025 Executive Order and coordination with the U.S. Department of Transportation and the FAA suggest early U.S. service could follow soon after international pilots and routes are proven.
Quote: Founder and CEO Adam Goldstein framed 2025 as “all about execution and scaling,” summarizing the company’s focus on keeping quality high, controlling cash burn, and meeting customer and government schedules.
Defense as a stabilizer and final outlook
Defense deliveries may provide validation and near‑term revenue, backing logistics and other missions while spreading development costs beyond passenger services. The recent acquisitions strengthen that path, with defense revenue possibly arriving earlier than large‑scale city networks.
If Archer hits key markers—FAA approval by the end of 2025, two aircraft per month thereafter, and international validation via the five‑country pathway—the company could enter 2026 with momentum. For communities, the first Midnight routes will test how electric air taxis fit daily travel. For Archer Aviation, the coming months in Covington, Georgia will decide whether the ARC factory can turn promise into a steady stream of certified aircraft.
This Article in a Nutshell
Archer shifts to early manufacturing in 2025 as six Midnight eVTOLs build concurrently. Covington’s ARC plant enables disciplined, Stellantis‑backed scaling. With FAA type certification targeted by year‑end and global launch programs, Archer aims two aircraft monthly by end 2025, pursuing defense contracts to stabilize revenue during ramp‑up.
