The facility in Alabama will assemble the A319, A320 and A321 aircraft. Construction of the assembly line will begin in summer 2013.
Aircraft assembly is planned to start in 2015, with first deliveries from the Mobile facility beginning in 2016.
Airbus anticipates the facility will produce between 40 and 50 aircraft per year by 2018.
The company says that the new Mobile assembly line, together with associated functions, should create as many as 1000 new high-skilled jobs.
“The time is right for Airbus to expand in America,” said Fabrice Brégier, Airbus President & CEO at the announcement of the new facility.
“The U.S. is the largest single-aisle aircraft market in the world – with a projected need for 4600 aircraft over the next 20 years – and this assembly line brings us closer to our customers. Mobile is now becoming part of Airbus’ global production network, joining our successful and growing assembly lines in Hamburg, Toulouse and Tianjin."
Airbus already has a presence in Alabama and throughout the US. In Alabama, the company operates an Engineering Center in Mobile – also located at Brookley Aeroplex and employing more than 200 engineers and support staff – as well as an Airbus Military customer services operation supporting US Coast Guard aircraft.
