Swedish-based Heart Aerospace, which is developing a hybrid-electric aircraft, is moving its operations to Los Angeles. The company announced that it is trying to “accelerate development” of the ES-30 aircraft. Â
The move will decimate the current Swedish workforce of 75 employees. This is on top of 72 employees that were made redundant in 2024 after the company materially changed the design of the ES-30.
As a regional aircraft producer and with the majority of regional aircraft sold in the United States, it makes sense that the company moves closer to this market. With its customers, investors, and partners based in the US, “we see greater opportunity in focusing our resources here,” said CEO Anders Forslund. Last June we had this chat with Anders.
The company has opened a new research and development center in El Segundo, near Los Angeles. “By consolidating our operations in Los Angeles, we can accelerate development, strengthen collaboration, and better position Heart Aerospace for the future.
Development Slipping
Heart is conducting R&D operations and plans to conduct test flights of both fully-electric and hybrid prototypes before building a production prototype. The plan to conduct flight tests of the fully-electric HX-1 prototype was scheduled for Plattsburgh airport in upstate New York during the second quarter, but has been delayed. A structural test resulted in the company replacing the composite wing, resulting in a delay of a few months. Heart stated that some properties of the material differed from predictions, and despite load testing being positive, decided to rebuild the wing. That will likely result in a six month development delay.Â
The HX-2, a hybrid powered pre-production prototype, is scheduled to make its first flight in 2026 using two outboard turboprop engines and two inboard electric motors. Certification of the ES-30 is currently scheduled for 2029.
“Our move to Los Angeles marks a new chapter in Heart Aerospace’s journey—one that prioritizes iterative development and deeper vertical integration,” said Forslund. “For the X2, we’re developing key technologies like batteries, actuation systems, software, and hybrid-electric hardware in-house. This approach allows us to refine and enhance our systems continuously, just as we’ve done with the X1 prototype, which has seen extensive testing and major design updates since its initial rollout in 2024.”
Additional Investment
The company has received a pledge for another $40 million pledged by an existing investor. This comes on top of a $107 million funding round in 2024. The company is focusing on product development in the United States that will support to forthcoming flights of the HX-1 and HX-2 prototype aircraft.
The Bottom Line
It is somewhat surprising to see a company founded on environmental concerns to move from an environmentally sensitive country like Sweden to a country with an administration that is culling environmental efforts in the United States. Sweden, through its Vinnova innovation agency, has provided funding for R&D at Heart, but those tasks have now been concluded. Typically, innovation investments are tied to later production and jobs, leaving some in Sweden with the impression that Heart has betrayed their early financial support.
While the United States has stronger aerospace design and engineering depth than Sweden, the country builds highly successful aircraft from Saab, and understands well the 30 seat regional market from their earlier aircraft. The move should provide the ability to move forward with the new investment quickly. Unfortunately, the Swedish workforce is paying a price for the change in direction.
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