New plant to build tens of thousands of aircraft, add up to 100 jobs
Wing will spend up to $125 million over the next two years on the Fort Worth plant, the company said Friday. The facility will occupy 15,000 square feet and is designed to build tens of thousands of aircraft each year.
Wing said the plant is meant to meet growing demand for quicker delivery and to support its effort to expand delivery services across the United States.
The company is aiming to scale to nearly 20 U.S. markets by 2027 through its partnership with Walmart, up from a current footprint of five major metropolitan areas. Those existing markets include Dallas-Fort Worth, Atlanta and Houston.
“Drone delivery has become a global reality, driven by clear demand from our partners and their customers,” Wing Chief Executive Adam Woodworth said.
Wing said the Texas facility would create up to 100 manufacturing jobs.
The announcement comes as drones gain momentum in the U.S. as the technology advances, and as retailers look for faster ways to make deliveries.
Wing is not alone in pairing drone operations with commercial partners. Startup Zipline has signed a series of deals with companies including Walmart and Uber Technologies’ Uber Eats, and on Thursday announced new funding that more than doubles its valuation from earlier this year, to $21.5 billion.
Amazon.com and delivery company DoorDash also have their own in-house drone divisions.
For Wing, the Fort Worth plant puts manufacturing capacity behind a delivery network that currently operates in five major metropolitan areas and is aiming to reach nearly 20 U.S. markets by 2027, with Walmart as its partner for the expansion.