Swedish electric aircraft startup Heart Aerospace is relocating its headquarters from Gothenburg to Los Angeles in a move it says will accelerate the development of its hybrid-electric passenger plane.
The transition will result in the layoff of all 75 employees in Sweden, according to company spokesperson Christina Zander. "Recruitment in the US is ongoing," she told TNW.
Founded in 2018, Heart Aerospace is developing the ES-30, a 30-seat hybrid-electric regional airliner. The first prototype, dubbed X1, is expected to take its maiden flight later this year.
Tobias Bengtsdahl, a partner at Stockholm-based VC firm Antler, said the decision underscores deeper issues in Europe’s tech ecosystem. “Europe’s over-regulation and lack of market appetite are actively driving innovation away,” he said. “Moves like this only reinforce the perception that the US is the better environment for building cutting-edge companies.”
To date, Heart Aerospace has raised nearly $200 million from investors including Breakthrough Energy Ventures, founded by Bill Gates, and the Swedish government. CEO and founder Anders Forslund said the relocation would allow the company to better concentrate its resources.
“Our customers, partners, and investors are increasingly based in the US,” Forslund said. “By consolidating operations in Los Angeles, we can move faster, collaborate more effectively, and strengthen our position for the future.”
The shift had been foreshadowed by several recent developments. In May 2024, Heart opened a research and development hub in Los Angeles. It previously conducted its first test flight in the US and secured a $4.1 million contract from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Heart has already booked 250 firm orders and 191 letters of intent for the ES-30. US airlines United and Mesa are among the major customers, while Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), Sweden’s Braathens Regional Airlines, and Icelandair have signed letters of intent covering 96 aircraft in total.
Despite the move, Zander emphasized that Heart's European partnerships remain intact. “Our Scandinavian investors and suppliers are still key collaborators,” she said. “Relocating to the US is a strategic step for prototype development, but Europe remains an essential part of our broader ecosystem.”
