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 (Long Beach, Calif., U.S.), the aerospace startup developing an all-wing airplane design, has announced Greensboro, North Carolina, as the location for its first advanced manufacturing and final assembly facility. Located on the Piedmont Triad International Airport grounds, the factory will produce JetZero’s Z4 blended wing body (BWB) aircraft, designed to transform commercial aviation through fuel efficiency, engineering, and an elevated passenger and flight crew experience. The aircraft will also be supported by composite materials qualified with Hexcel (Stamford, Conn., U.S.).

The new site will create more than 14,500 jobs, delivering positive economic impact on the region and providing opportunities for collaboration with academic and vocational training institutions. JetZero will be capable of producing up to 20 Z4 airplanes per month at the factory’s full run rate, expected to be achieved by the late 2030s.

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“North Carolina offers the ideal combination of talent, infrastructure and forward-thinking leadership to support our mission to reshape aviation,” notes Tom O’Leary, CEO and co-founder of JetZero. 

The state’s aerospace ecosystem, access to world-class research, university and technical colleges, and commitment to bringing innovative businesses to the state were key factors in JetZero’s selection. The company is working closely with state and local officials on workforce development and training programs. Construction on the facility is expected to begin in the first half of 2026, with first customer deliveries in the early 2030s. 

JetZero is taking a clean-sheet approach to designing and building the factory. Working with  (Plano, Texas, U.S.), including its Smart Infrastructure, Electrification and Automation divisions, headquartered in North Carolina, JetZero is designing the greenfield factory to leverage the latest digital and industrial AI tools to ensure the most efficient and cost-effective production and operating model. Siemens also supports JetZero’s design/build/test model for the demonstrator aircraft, a full-scale prototype slated for first flight in 2027 — its tools will enable accelerated design, adaptable manufacturing and digital test, shaving years of development time while upholding high quality and safety standards.

Ultimately, the new facility in North Carolina will be the cornerstone of JetZero’s production, enabling the company to help airlines meet growing demand for air travel at a significant operating cost advantage. JetZero reports that the Z4 will deliver up to 50% better fuel efficiency due to its all-wing design, with lift provided by the entire wingspan and lower drag compared to a tube-and-wing aircraft. The Z4 will seat ~250 passengers and fly routes of up to 5,000 nautical miles, a combination of capabilities that airlines need to serve the “middle market” between high-density single-aisle aircraft and larger twin-aisle aircraft. Demand for air travel is forecast to double by the 2040s (compared to 2019 levels), while the aviation industry also aims to decarbonize operations by 2050.

“You can only grow and meet demand while also decarbonizing through innovation,” O’Leary says. “And while we’re at it, let’s make the flying experience incredible.”