New study outlines the future factory designed to build the world’s first hydrogen-electric business aircraft.
Toulouse, France – December 8, 2025 - Only a few months after reaching Technology Readiness Level 6 (TRL6) for its full-scale hydrogen-electric propulsion system, Beyond Aero takes the next major step toward industrialization of its BYA-1 aircraft. The company today unveils the complete feasibility study of its future factory conducted with Porsche Consulting for the industrial architecture and Kardham Group for the site’s architecture design.
Beyond Aero begins the search for its future industrial home
This extensive study clarifies the vision for a new aircraft manufacturing site, designed to support serial production of the world’s first certifiable hydrogen-electric business aircraft, and to create a significant new hub of industrial employment, skills, and innovation.
An industrial foundation that strengthens regional economic development and advances a new era of aerospace innovation. The planned manufacturing facility would support a cadence of 60 aircraft per year, and create 225 production jobs, including technicians, engineers, quality specialists, logistics roles, and hydrogen-electric integration experts. The building itself is sized to ultimately accommodate up to 120 aircraft per year as the program scales. These positions will be complemented by R&D teams, program support, testing operations, and cross-functional roles, forming a complete industrial ecosystem and a major economic engine for the region.
The study conducted by Porsche Consulting and Kardham Group defines the site’s operating model, energy needs, process flow, workstation design, and building layout. It outlines a complete aircraft manufacturing campus that includes:
An industrial foundation that strengthens regional economic development and advances a new era of aerospace innovation. The planned manufacturing facility would support a cadence of 60 aircraft per year, and create 225 production jobs, including technicians, engineers, quality specialists, logistics roles, and hydrogen-electric integration experts. The building itself is sized to ultimately accommodate up to 120 aircraft per year as the program scales. These positions will be complemented by R&D teams, program support, testing operations, and cross-functional roles, forming a complete industrial ecosystem and a major economic engine for the region.
The study conducted by Porsche Consulting and Kardham Group defines the site’s operating model, energy needs, process flow, workstation design, and building layout. It outlines a complete aircraft manufacturing campus that includes:
- a 17,000 m² final assembly line,
- a delivery center with direct access to both road and runway,
- a customer showroom,
- a paint shop,
- R&D offices and labs designed following the most modern industry standards.
A new kind of industry: modern, efficient, and attractive
With Kardham Group’s architectural work, the planned site reflects the image of 21st-century industry: energy-efficient, resource-conscious, and designed around employee well-being. Far from outdated perceptions of heavy industry, this future facility represents an efficient, technological, and attractive industrial environment built to develop new skills and retain top engineering talent.
In parallel, the study draws on Porsche Consulting’s industrial expertise to ensure a safe, scalable, and efficient production flow from day one, including their proven know-how in supply chain and quality management — essential for a reliable Final Assembly Line.
Born and developed in France, the project is now progressing on a global stage, contributing to Europe’s leadership in aviation as it evaluates the best long-term industrial configuration.
A program taking its place in global aerospace landscape
Beyond Aero is emerging as a defining player in new-generation aviation. The company has:
- reached TRL6 with its full-scale hydrogen-electric propulsion system,
- completed France’s first manned, fully hydrogen-electric flight,
- secured over $1 billion in Letters of Intent,
- grown an international team of more than 80 aerospace engineers.
Beyond Aero is now entering a structured evaluation phase to determine the future home of its industrial site. Several regions, including candidates in France and across Europe, have formally expressed interest, underscoring the growing strategic importance of hydrogen-electric aviation.
Modeling and testing our hydrogen-electric aircraft was only the first step. We are now building the industrial system capable of delivering it, integrating manufacturing requirements directly into the design. The next phases will include a modern, efficient, job-creating aerospace facility built for a new era of aviation.
Eloa Guillotin, CEO of Beyond Aero
Designing a Final Assembly Line for a hydrogen-electric aircraft requires rethinking traditional aerospace production principles. Our work with Beyond Aero combines proven industrial excellence with the constraints of a new propulsion era — a unique opportunity to prepare the next generation of aviation manufacturing.
Dr. Arnaud De Vries, Associate Partner at Porsche Consulting
Modern factories are no longer synonymous with smoking chimneys. They are efficient, sustainable, and designed to attract top talent. Hydrogen-electric aviation opens a new chapter, and Beyond Aero’s future site will be one of its showcases.
David Habrias, CEO of Kardham Group
About Beyond Aero
Beyond Aero is building the first electric business aircraft powered by hydrogen propulsion, enabling six passengers to fly up to 800 NM (1,500 km)—five times farther than a battery-powered aircraft. Founded in December 2020, the company is redesigning the architecture of a light jet around hydrogen-electric propulsion, focusing on fuel cell technology, gaseous hydrogen tank integration, and advanced cooling systems. With offices in Toulouse, Paris, and Los Angeles, the startup boasts a team of over 80 highly qualified engineers from leading aerospace companies.
Beyond Aero has secured over $50 million in funding, backed by investors such as Giant Ventures, Bpifrance, and prior supporters like Initialized Capital, Female Founders Fund, and 7 Percent Ventures. Beyond Aero also completed Y Combinator in 2022. The company has secured $1bn in Letters of Intent (LOIs) and recently completed France’s first manned, fully hydrogen-electric flight. Beyond Aero is a member of the World Economic Forum’s First Movers Coalition and the Alliance for Zero Emission Aviation, underscoring its commitment to electrifying aviation with hydrogen propulsion.
Beyond Aero has secured over $50 million in funding, backed by investors such as Giant Ventures, Bpifrance, and prior supporters like Initialized Capital, Female Founders Fund, and 7 Percent Ventures. Beyond Aero also completed Y Combinator in 2022. The company has secured $1bn in Letters of Intent (LOIs) and recently completed France’s first manned, fully hydrogen-electric flight. Beyond Aero is a member of the World Economic Forum’s First Movers Coalition and the Alliance for Zero Emission Aviation, underscoring its commitment to electrifying aviation with hydrogen propulsion.
About Porsche Consulting
Headquartered in Paris, Porsche Consulting SAS is a subsidiary of Porsche Consulting GmbH, daughter company of the Stuttgart-based sports car manufacturer Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG. Porsche Consulting, founded in 1994 currently employs more than 900 people worldwide with subsidiaries in Italy, Brazil, USA and China. Porsche Consulting is a recognized leader in management consulting driven by the principle of “Strategic vision, smart implementation”; its experts advise large corporations and medium-sized companies worldwide in the aviation and aerospace, defense, automotive, transportation, mechanical and plant engineering industries. Their clients also come from the consumer goods, retail, life science and construction sectors.
About KARDHAM Group
A multi-disciplinary specialist, the KARDHAM Group supports its clients — users, owners, developers, and investors — throughout their entire real estate journey, from upstream strategic planning to the successful delivery of their projects, in France and worldwide. KARDHAM brings together nearly 400 employees. Through its BIM, Green, Digital, and R&D expert units, its specialist teams provide innovative solutions that ensure economic, technical, construction, and societal performance across consulting, architecture & engineering, fit-out, and digital services. Among their customers: Airbus, Safran, Thalès, Dassault, Aéroport Toulouse Blagnac.
