Morocco is on the cusp of joining the club of countries manufacturing electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, known as "flying taxis," as part of a new international industrial partnership between the UK-based company Vertical Aerospace and the Spanish group Aciturri Aerostructures, which operates an industrial facility in the Kingdom.
The Bristol-based British company announced earlier this week, in a statement, the signing of a long-term strategic agreement with Aciturri to manufacture the airframe of the VX4 electric aircraft — a hybrid electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL), designed to carry four passengers and a pilot, with a range of up to 160 kilometers and a cruising speed of 240 km/h.
Under the agreement, the Spanish group will design and supply all structural components of the aircraft, including the wing, tail, struts, and fuselage, for both pre-production units and commercially certified models.
According to the British company’s statement, Aciturri will also oversee the engineering of several key parts and provide parallel engineering services to ensure efficient and scalable production of the aircraft.
Morocco’s integration into this advanced industrial chain follows Aciturri’s entry into the Moroccan market in September 2023, through its acquisition of GOAM Industrie, a company specializing in the manufacturing of high-precision aircraft engine components, located near Casablanca. This makes Morocco a key industrial partner in the project.
Vertical Aerospace emphasized in its statement that this partnership falls within the framework of its long-term strategy, Flightpath 2030, aimed at building a robust industrial network and securing long-term component supply in preparation for the mass production of the VX4 aircraft, which represents the future of sustainable urban air mobility.
Aciturri brings nearly five decades of experience in the aerospace industry and has previously participated in major programs with companies such as Airbus, Boeing, and Embraer. It has also contributed to the development of eVTOL platforms with specialized companies, positioning it as a strategic industrial partner in the British firm’s project.
Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace, stated that the VX4 aircraft requires a structure that is both lightweight and durable, highlighting that Aciturri offers the industrial capabilities, flexibility, and quality needed to move from design to full production.
For his part, Manuel González Relaño, Executive Director of the Spanish company, expressed the group’s aspiration to "redefine urban transportation through sustainable electric aviation" in partnership with the British project owner.
This agreement further strengthens Morocco’s position as an emerging industrial hub in the future aerospace sector. It also reflects growing international confidence in Morocco’s industrial ecosystem, particularly as the Kingdom expands its presence in global supply chains for both conventional and next-generation aerospace components.
