VoltAero has reached an agreement with a pair of prospective new investors who will support plans to build its Cassio family of hybrid-electric regional aircraft in the Malaysian state of Sarawak. On July 2, the French start-up announced that it has signed a letter of intent with SEDC Energy of Malaysia and France’s ACI Groupe.
SEDC Energy (part of the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation) and engineering and technology group ACI have not disclosed amounts for their planned equity stakes in VoltAero. They have confirmed that they will back plans for an aircraft assembly facility in Sarawak to support manufacturing and distribution rights for the Cassio aircraft in the Asia-Pacific market.
VoltAero announced the agreement almost two weeks after Malaysian flight school HM Aerospace agreed to buy 15 of its five-seat Cassio 330 aircraft, which it aims to certify with EASA under CS23 rules in 2027. During the Paris Air Show, the company displayed a full-scale mockup of a revised design featuring a series hybrid propulsion system and a new T-tail configuration. It is also developing larger models called the Cassio 480 and 600 with six and 12 seats, respectively.
Training and Maintenance Plans
The partnership with SEDC Energy and ACI Groupe involves plans to provide training for Cassio pilots, technicians, and engineers, and establish maintenance, repair, and overhaul facilities. ACI Groupe will support work to develop local supply chains and other joint work covering the deployment of mobile charging stations at regional airports. Wider plans call for developing hydrogen propulsion and sustainable aviation fuels.
VoltAero’s main manufacturing facility is located at Rochefort Charente-Maritime Airport in the southwest of France. “Establishing a regional hub in Malaysia allows us to expand our production capacity, deliver on regional demand, and transfer technology and skills to a key part of the world that is embracing sustainable aviation,” said the company’s CEO and chief technology officer, Jean Botti.