Mumbai, Feb 21 (.) Brazilian aircraft manufacturer, Embraer, today announced that it plans to set up a final assembly line (FAL) to assemble its 88-seater E175 regional jets in India, in a joint venture with the Adani Group by 2028, if the company meets its target of getting order for 200 aircraft from India in two years.
Embraer President and CEO Francisco Gomes Neto said that the Adani Group is in the process of finalising the site of the assembly plant at the Dholera Special Investment Region (DSIR) in Gujarat, citing the union government’s ‘Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik’ (UDAN) scheme as one of the factors behind India’s rising demand for aircraft to enable domestic regional air connectivity.
Neto further stated that Embraer plans to hold meetings with top brass executives of key Indian airlines like Air India and IndiGo, as well as decision makers of the Tata Group.
Neto’s statement comes after Adani Defence & Aerospace had on January 27 announced the signing of an MoU with Embraer to develop an integrated regional transport aircraft ecosystem in India and collaborate on opportunities in aircraft manufacturing, supply chain, aftermarket services, as well as pilot training.
The aircraft will be assembled at the Dholera site, in the Ahmedabad district of Gujarat, by a joint venture between Adani Defence & Aerospace and Embraer.
The Dholera site is likely to be finalised because the Dholera Special Investment Region (DSIR) is expected to be developed as one of India’s most advanced smart industrial cities, and a Dholera International Airport is expected to be built in the city, along with a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility for aircraft and a pilot training school. The Dholera Special Investment Region (DSIR) will also include a seaport being set up with private-sector participation by Dholera Port Ltd, which is promoted by the JK Group and the Adani Group.
“Regional aviation is the backbone of economic expansion. With initiatives like UDAN transforming air connectivity across Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, the need for an indigenous regional aviation ecosystem has become critical. This partnership will also strengthen strategic relations between India and Brazil, bringing complementary capabilities together,” Adani Defence & Aerospace Director Jeet Adani had said on January 27.
“India is a pivotal market for Embraer, and this partnership combines our aerospace expertise with Adani’s strong industrial capabilities and commitment to indigenisation. Together, we will evaluate the most viable, advanced, and efficient solutions in support of India’s RTA ambitions, and their potential for implementation,” Embraer Commercial Aviation President and CEO Arjan Meijer said.
Embraer has a growing footprint and long history in India, with nearly 50 Embraer aircraft and 11 aircraft types currently operating across commercial, defence and business aviation. Embraer aircraft operated by the Indian Air Force (IAF) include the Legacy 600 aircraft and the ‘Netra’ AEW&C aircraft based on the Embraer ERJ145 platform, while Star Air operates a fleet of 13 E175 and ERJ145 aircraft.
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