Siemens & JetZero Break Ground on AI-Led Aerospace Plant

California based JetZero has broken ground on its first manufacturing and final assembly campus, an eight million square foot factory on more than 600 acres in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Last year, JetZero announced a US$4.7bn investment for the production facility, which is set to create more than 14,500 jobs. 

The factory has been co-designed with Siemens’ Smart Infrastructure, Electrification and Automation divisions to leverage the latest digital and industrial AI tools. 

The aircraft production facility

In Greensboro, JetZero will make the Z4 aircraft. This is designed for the commercial middle market, with 250 passenger capacity on a range of up to 5,000 nautical miles.

Tom O’Leary, CEO and Co-Founder of JetZero, says: “It should come as no surprise that JetZero is breaking ground here in North Carolina – the first in flight state. 

“North Carolina has a vision for its future as a global aerospace hub, and JetZero shares that vision. We believe the time has come for an all-wing airplane, to support the industry’s need for more efficient airplanes that also deliver an incredible experience. We intend to reshape aviation, from right here in North Carolina.”

The company secured investments and conditional purchase agreements from Alaska Airlines and United Airlines for its aircraft. 

Manufacturing powered by Siemens' AI

Tom says: “By using the best digital tools available before we break ground, we’ve designed a factory that can grow and change with us. That means we can deliver better aircraft, faster, for our customers and our country.”

JetZero’s Greensboro plant, a “smart factory”, will be designed using advanced digital and AI native platforms developed in collaboration with Siemens and Deloitte.

These platforms and tools allow engineers to build a complete digital twin of the factory before any concrete is poured, testing how machines, people and materials will move through the building.

Ann Fairchild, President and CEO of Siemens USA, says: “Our partnership with JetZero demonstrates how cutting-edge industrial technology can help reindustrialise America.

“Our digital twins help bring the next generation of manufacturing facilities to life faster and with greater confidence. We’re proud to help JetZero build a world-class aerospace facility that will create thousands of jobs and strengthen North Carolina’s position as the next great US aerospace hub.” 

Siemens also supports JetZero’s design/build/test model for its Demonstrator aircraft, a blended wing body prototype aircraft, for which it received a US$235m contract from the Department of Defense in 2023. 

What is JetZero? 

JetZero was founded in California in 2021. A startup, its investors include United Airlines Ventures and Northrop Grumman. 

The company says that its site in Greenboro was supported by the largest ever State-level incentive package for any startup of any industry.

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein says: "Today, a great new chapter in North Carolina's storied history of flight is taking off. 

"JetZero's decision to build here is a vote of confidence in North Carolina's workforce, our universities and community colleges and our long aerospace tradition. These 14,500 jobs and US$4.7bn in investment will transform the triad region for generations. North Carolina is not only First in Flight, we are the future of flight, too."

The company was selected by the US Air Force to design, test, and integrate its structures and systems into a full-scale demonstrator airplane that is slated to fly in 2027.

JetZero is also designing military variants of the Z4, including an aerial refueler and transport aircraft.