Embraer Could Build Aircraft In The USA

Embraer is studying the prospect of building commercial aircraft in the United States and India, driven by a record order book and strong pressure on its industrial base in Brazil.

The possible U.S. investment is initially tied to the KC-390 military transport, but it is also a target market for exploring commercial production as part of longer-term commercial ambitions, according to O Globo.

Embraer’s chief executive, Francisco Gomes Neto, said internal studies were underway on how new assembly lines internationally could benefit the business. While India is a more immediate prospect and was flagged some time ago, interest in the United States is growing.

A U.S. Embraer Base Rests on the KC-390

While Embraer plans its next decade for the commercial airplanes division, the U.S. would first need to host a KC-390 assembly line. At the same time, no decision has been made; it will largely depend on the scale of a possible order as ongoing sales campaigns enter their final stages.

Embraer already has an industrial footprint in Florida, where it assembles Phenom and Praetor business jets; the KC-390 line would expand its U.S. manufacturing presence and add local content to support the targeted defence campaigns.

45% of the Brazilian company’s commercial aircraft sales and 70% of its executive jet sales are destined for this country, so a base there for business jets makes sense. The next step could be commercial aircraft production.

Commercial Production Appears to Be the Next Step

While the discussion now focuses on the KC-390, Embraer has made it clear that a broader assembly expansion is still possible, with Gomes Neto speaking with investors and making his intentions clear.

If the Indian programme proves successful, it could support commercial aircraft production in more international markets as capacity planning takes shape for decades to come.

Embraer’s record US$34.5 billion firm backlog at the end of the second quarter of 2026 was up 16% year on year, marking its seventh consecutive record-breaking quarter. The manufacturer isn’t looking to slow down, with a key production target by 2030 of 120 to 130 commercial aircraft, more than 200 executive jets and 10 KC-390s.

The quarterly results also showed 65 aircraft were delivered in just three months, the strongest output in 16 years in Q2, supporting the case for additional assembly lines to raise output beyond capacity in Brazil and closer to major customers.

Expansion would be most significant for E-Jet E2 sales, particularly in North America, where fleet replacement continues to take shape across mainline and regional airlines. However, the Brazilian planemaker is thinking beyond just the E2.

A Challenger to Airbus and Boeing Later?

A U.S. assembly presence would not, in itself, ensure Embraer could compete better with Airbus and Boeing directly, but it would give customers more support for the aircraft currently in production, with the portfolio centred on regional jets slotted below the current single-aisle segment of the A320neo and 737-8.

However, a larger industrial base in the United States, alongside further feasibility studies, could help move Embraer in the right direction to become a disruptor in the single-aisle duopoly. Expanding production and deepening U.S. (and thus global) ties could create a platform for a clean-sheet narrowbody programme.

A move into the Boeing 737 or Airbus A320 category comes with risks and would strain the business, requiring huge investment and a mature supply chain. However, strong backlogs and a base in the U.S., alongside other international markets, give Embraer a better foundation to follow up with a larger aircraft.