The French start-up VoltAero, which develops small hybrid (fuel-electric) aircraft, was declared bankrupt on October 7 by the commercial court of La Rochelle, after having been declared insolvent on September 25.
The company founded in 2017 was preparing the mass production of the Cassio 330 five-seat hybrid electric aircraft at its Rochefort assembly plant, which operates on the principle of plug-in hybrid cars.
During the last edition of the air show, VoltAero announced an investment from SEDC Energy, an entity of the government of the Malaysian state of Sarawak dedicated to new energies, and the French group ACI, a specialist in industrial engineering and manufacturing.
No private support
This tripartite agreement provided, in particular, for the creation of a regional assembly center for Cassio hybrid electric aircraft in Malaysia. “ACI was going to become a shareholder of VoltAero. But we had the unpleasant surprise of finding out about its judicial recovery, of which we are collateral victims,” explains the general director.
Jean Botti regrets that no French investor has come forward. “The State and the region of New Aquitaine help us, but not the private sector,” laments the co-founder of this new company that currently has 35 employees.
Source: BFM TV
