Vertical Aerospace Activates Battery Pilot Production Line for Valo eVTOL Program

Vertical Aerospace has brought its battery pilot production line online at the Vertical Energy Centre, marking a significant step toward certification and early commercial manufacturing of the Valo electric aircraft. The move strengthens the company’s in‑house capability to produce high performance battery systems, a critical technology area for advanced air mobility and broader aerospace electrification efforts.

Advancing Proven Battery Technology for Certification

The 15,000 square foot Vertical Energy Centre, opened in 2023, has supported the company’s piloted flight test program since 2024. Vertical’s proprietary battery systems have demonstrated peak power output of up to 1.4 MW during testing, positioning the technology among the highest performing systems in the emerging eVTOL sector.

The facility has now been upgraded with automated, aerospace grade manufacturing processes intended to enhance consistency, efficiency, and performance as the company moves toward certification. The pilot line will produce the final battery packs for seven Valo certification aircraft that will be used in the concluding phases of the UK Civil Aviation Authority and European Union Aviation Safety Agency approval programs. It will also support the initial phase of commercial production targeted for 2028.

Building Industrial Capability for Commercial Scale

Vertical’s CEO Stuart Simpson noted that establishing automated battery production capacity is central to the company’s long term manufacturing strategy. The company maintains partnerships with major aerospace suppliers for much of the Valo’s development, but retains battery technology as a core internal competency due to its importance for performance, safety, and lifecycle economics.

Vertical expects batteries to generate recurring revenue throughout each aircraft’s operational life. The company anticipates supplying roughly 20 battery packs per aircraft, with total demand potentially reaching approximately 45,000 packs across the fleet by 2035.

Expansion Through Vertical Energy Centre 2

In parallel with the pilot line, Vertical is developing Vertical Energy Centre 2, a 30,000 square foot powertrain facility adjacent to the current site. Scheduled to open later this year, VEC2 will triple the company’s battery production capacity. Vertical expects to invest £6.4 million or $8.5 million across both facilities by 2027.

Strengthening the UK Aerospace Manufacturing Base

Vertical continues to expand its presence in the South West of England, where it employs approximately 450 people. The company plans to announce the location of its full rate production and battery facilities later this year, with both UK and international sites under consideration. Vertical projects that its manufacturing ecosystem could support at least 2,220 highly skilled jobs by 2035 as production scales.

About Vertical Aerospace

Vertical Aerospace is a global aerospace and technology company developing electric and hybrid electric aircraft for advanced air mobility. The Valo is a piloted, four passenger eVTOL aircraft designed for zero operating emissions, with a hybrid electric variant in development to support extended range missions. Vertical combines partnerships with leading aerospace suppliers with proprietary battery and propeller technologies. The company holds approximately 1,500 pre orders from customers across four continents and is headquartered in Bristol, United Kingdom.