Heart Aerospace, the developer of hybrid-electric planes, plans to shift its main offices from Gothenburg, Sweden, to Los Angeles, California. This relocation aims to bolster the company’s initiatives for advancing hybrid-electric aviation technology within the U.S.
Heart Aerospace states that this shift is crucial because of the increasing involvement of its partners and investors in the U.S. Moreover, the firm highlights its emphasis on "deeper vertical integration.” This will enable its product development to better assist with the forthcoming experimental flights of the Heart X1 prototype, along with the anticipated Heart X2 prototype, within the U.S.
Expanding Horizons Within The U.S. Market
The Swedish company that produces hybrid-electric planes is presently going through a shift focused on considerably expanding its workforce in the U.S. The firm believes this move will be more advantageous due to the growing presence of its clients, collaborators, and financiers in the country. Recently, Heart Aerospace successfully closed a $107 million Series B financing round and additionally garnered another $40 million in investments.
The firm additionally launched a fresh R&D center in the United States Furthermore, it has received a $4.1 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration’s ( FAA ) Fuelling Aviation’s Sustainable Transition (FAST) program to develop a management system for its hybrid propulsion technology. Commenting on the news, Anders Forslund, co-founder and CEO of Heart Aerospace, said:
Relocating to Los Angeles represents a fresh start for Heart Aerospace’s story—a phase focused on refining processes through iteration and deepening internal control over various aspects of production. With respect to the X2 project, we're taking charge of critical components such as battery technology, motion systems, software solutions, and hybrid-electric machinery ourselves. This strategy enables ongoing enhancement and optimization of these elements, similar to how we've evolved the X1 model since its launch in 2024; this version underwent rigorous trials along with significant redesigns.
First Experimental Flight Later In 2025
News about Heart Aerospace shifting its operations arrives just as the firm gets ready for the initial test flight of its completely electric prototype aircraft, known as the Heart Experimental 1 (Heart X1). This pioneering flight is set to occur at Plattsburgh International Airport in upstate New York during late 2025. The forthcoming trial run of the Heart X1 prototype marks an essential step towards verifying the effectiveness of the company’s advanced electric engine technology.
Heart Aerospace chose Plattsburgh International Airport due to its location in the expanding Champlain Valley, which is becoming a hub for advanced transport technologies. They believe the facility’s spacious runway, minimal congestion, and robust community backing render it an ideal spot for conducting their test flights.
The company claims that the 30-seat ES-30 is set to become the largest fully electric aircraft ever to fly. Designed for short-haul routes, the ES-30 aircraft offers a zero-emissions all-electric range of 200 kilometres, which can be extended to 400 kilometres in hybrid mode, positioning it as a game-changer in sustainable aviation.
Rivals In The Electric Aviation Market
The electric aviation market has many companies developing electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles, but few are working on electric regional aircraft capable of seating at least up to 10 passengers. In this category, only two prominent manufacturers stand out: Heart Aerospace and Eviation.
Or at least, they stood out until the Israeli-founded company behind the Alice electric aircraft was shaken by a tense internal standoff among its shareholders. In February 2025, the company ceased operations and laid off staff to give it “time to explore strategic opportunities,” as per Aerospace Testing International .
Eviation’s nine-seat Alice aircraft, designed for commuter and cargo use, is expected to reach a top speed of 480 km/h, with a range of up to 400 km and a flight endurance of up to two hours. The plane maker had aimed to begin certification testing this year, with plans for the aircraft to enter service by 2027. However, the Alice aircraft completed only a single flight in September 2022.
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