Electric-powered “flying cars” could soon be seen over Auburndale now that SunTrax has attracted an Israeli company, AIR, which will operate a 20,000-square-foot facility to manufacture the aircraft.
The SunTrax transportation testing facility is the nation’s first dedicated test site for electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, sometimes loosely referred to as “flying cars,” positioning Polk County and Florida as a national leader in advanced air mobility, according to various media reports.
AIR represents a major economic development for Polk County
When Israeli aircraft developer AIR announced it will establish its U.S. headquarters at SunTrax, it was major economic news for Polk County, the Tampa Bay Business Journal reported.
AIR will manufacture its AIR ONE personal eVTOL aircraft and an autonomous cargo aircraft in Aubundale, the Business Journal reported. It will relocate flight-testing operations from South Florida to Polk County.
“We are excited to welcome them to the Central Florida Innovation District,” said Sean Malott, CEO and president of the Central Florida Economic Development Council.
Unlike several other companies locating facilities in Polk County in recent years, AIR has not received any incentives from the county, he said.
“From our discussions, one of the most significant factors in their decision to locate here was the presence of SunTrax and the unique testing and innovation environment it provides for advanced mobility technologies,” Malott said.
Gov. DeSantis announced eVTOL aircraft was coming to SunTrax
In two separate visits to Polk County this year, Gov. Ron DeSantis has said Florida will become a hub for testing eVTOL aircraft, specifically the SunTrax facility in Auburndale.
He suggested future travelers could potentially fly over Interstate 4 congestion between Tampa and Orlando.
Companies such as AIR are expected to begin actively testing the aircraft at SunTrax by the end of the year. The state is also exploring an “Aerial Highway Network” with infrastructure for charging, takeoff and landing facilities.
Critics puzzled over flying cars announcement
The announcement is notable because DeSantis has been critical of policies promoting conventional electric vehicles, the Miami Herald reported. In 2023, he vetoed legislation that would have increased EV purchases for the state fleet.
Florida also has been slow to deploy nearly $200 million in federal funds for EV charging infrastructure received through the 2021 federal infrastructure law, the report said. Critics argue some of that funding is now being redirected toward advanced aviation projects rather than expanding EV charging networks.
The eVTOL technology remains far less mature than electric cars and many areas of Florida still lack adequate EV charging infrastructure, the report said. Further, the aircraft are likely to benefit relatively few Floridians in the near term compared with investments in conventional EVs.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Israeli company will manufacture ‘air taxis’ in Polk County
Reporting by Paul Nutcher, Lakeland Ledger / The Ledger
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Paul Nutcher, Lakeland Ledger | USA TODAY Network
