Gothenburg, Sweden-based Heart Aerospace, a hybrid-electric aeroplane maker, announced the relocation of its corporate headquarters from Gothenburg, Sweden, to Los Angeles, California.
As part of this transition, Heart has decided to close its operations in Sweden, resulting in the firing of 75 employees, according to the report.
According to Flight Global, Heart Aerospace already axed 72 roles in February last year, after a major design change to the ES-30.
The relocation announcement aims to enhance product development in the U.S. for the upcoming experimental flights of the Heart X1 and future Heart X2 prototypes.
“Our move to Los Angeles marks a new chapter in Heart Aerospace’s journey—one that prioritises iterative development and deeper vertical integration,” says Aysnders Forslund, co-founder and CEO of Heart Aerospace.
“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,” adds Forslund.
Heart Aerospace: Test flight with Heart X1
The company is planning to conduct the first fully electric experimental flight of its demonstrator airplane, Heart Experimental 1 (Heart X1), at upstate New York’s Plattsburgh International Airport in 2025.
The first experimental flight of Heart X1 is set to become the largest fully electric aircraft ever to fly.
It has an all-electric, zero-emissions range of 200 kilometers and an extended hybrid range of 400 kilometres.
Plattsburgh International Airport was chosen for its location in the Champlain Valley, an emerging hub for next-generation transportation.
Raised €94M funding
Last year, the company raised $107M (approximately €94M) in a Series B funding round in 2024 and recently secured an additional $40M (approximately €35M) investment.
“We are deeply grateful to our team in Sweden for being part of this chapter of Heart’s journey, and for all the support we have received in Sweden,” says Anders Forslund.
“However, as our customers, partners, and investors are increasingly based in the U.S, we see greater opportunity in focusing our resources here. By consolidating our operations in Los Angeles, we can accelerate development, strengthen collaboration, and better position Heart
Aerospace for the future,” adds Forslund.
The company is backed by investors, including Air Canada, Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures, European Innovation Council Fund, EQT Ventures, Lower Carbon Capital, Norrsken VC, United Airlines, and Y Combinator.
