Thu, Sep 09, 2010
Terrafugia Gears Up For Low-Volume Production In Woburn,
MA
The Terrafugia Transition Roadable Aircraft ... or "Flying Car"
... is a step closer to a garage near you, as the company is
setting up for for low-volume production in a 19,000 sq. ft.
facility in Woburn, MA. After considering proposals from locations
throughout the U.S. and the world, Terrafugia has moved forward
with plans that could allow low volume production to begin as early
as late 2011. Longer term, high volume production plans have not
yet been finalized and will be influenced by experience gained in
low volume manufacturing.
Terrafugia Image
Following an enthusiastic response to the release of the next
generation design of the Transition at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh,
Wisconsin in July, two prototypes are currently under construction
in Terrafugia's new facility. One will undergo extensive road
testing while the other will be used to complete certification
flight testing for a Light Sport Aircraft classification.
Experience from the construction of these prototypes will also be
used to finalize the initial price point of the vehicle, which is
expected to be between $200,000 and $250,000.
Terrafugia, which is Latin for "escape from land", expects to
create an additional fifty skilled manufacturing jobs at its new
facility by 2013 to support early production demand. Reservations
have already been placed for the aircraft that will be built in the
first two to three years of production and are still being accepted
with a $10,000 refundable deposit.
Chief Operating Officer Anna Mracek Dietrich has been energized
by the move: "It is exciting to be in the facility where the first
Transitions will be built for our customers and to see the
production prototypes under construction in that space."
CEO/CTO Carl Dietrich is looking ahead to long term financial
stability for the company: "We can get to positive net income and
be self-sustaining in a relatively short time here. There are still
many options to continue our growth in the future, but this move
lets us lay a solid foundation for Terrafugia's future
today." Dietrich also adds: "We're pleased to be able to set
up low volume production near our company's roots here in
Massachusetts."
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