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.

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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."

FMI: www.terrafugia.com/aircraft.html