'Perhaps naive to think they'd stay' – impact experts on Heart Aerospace's move to the US

On Wednesday, Heart Aerospace confirmed it will relocate its operations from Gothenburg on Sweden's west coast to Los Angeles. The move marks a major shift for the electric aircraft developer – and has sparked broad debate about its implications for Sweden's green industry and impact startup scene.

"We are deeply grateful to our team in Sweden for being part of this chapter of Heart’s journey, and for all the support we have received in Sweden," says Anders Forslund, co-founder and CEO of Heart Aerospace. "However, as our customers, partners, and investors are increasingly based in the US, we see greater opportunity in focusing our resources here."

Mixed reactions from Sweden's impact community

Among Swedish climate-tech experts and impact founders, the reaction was one of disappointment – but not consensus. Whilst some lament the loss of a high-profile player in the domestic green transition, others say the move reflects a broader realignment of global innovation funding.

One of Heart Aerospace's local collaborators was Science Park Gotland (Gotland is Sweden's biggest island). Maria Fiskerud, who worked both as a project lead there and as Heart's innovation ecosystem lead, will now lose her role with the company.

"Yes, the jobs that existed at Heart Aerospace in Sweden are going away," she tells Impact Loop. Though surprised by the full relocation, Fiskerud sees advantages in consolidating test flights and development in one place. Her work to establish Gotland as a testbed for electric aviation continues regardless. "We still want to see Heart Aerospace take off from Gotland," she says.

"Perhaps we're good at innovation, but not at scaling"

Bo Normark, industry strategist at InnoEnergy and honorary doctor at KTH, believes the move highlights a persistent challenge in Sweden's industrial landscape. "We're good at innovation, but perhaps not at scaling," he tells Impact Loop.

The US has pulled ahead in the race to develop electric aviation, and Normark suggests it's also easier to navigate the regulatory landscape there. "I'm not across the details, but it seems obvious they're getting better conditions in the US."

Sweden's national coordinator for the green transition, Kristina Alvendal, wasn't surprised by the move, saying the company had signalled the shift earlier. She describes it as a "business decision" given Heart's growing ties to American investors and partners.

Whilst she regrets that a company keen to grow in Sweden is now heading abroad, Alvendal doesn't see the move as a sign of systemic weakness in Sweden's green industry. "Next week, we're releasing a major report on the green transition across Sweden, and I can already say– there's a lot going on."

She does, however, acknowledge that Sweden's sluggish and unpredictable permitting processes remain a bottleneck. "If the move is due to regulatory issues here, I hope we find that out. But the green transition overall is in good health and continues to develop."

If the move is due to regulatory issues here, I hope we find that out

"Capital is drying up for electrification"

Fredrik Hånell, a mobility expert and former investor at European VC EIT Urban Mobility, was more surprised by the announcement. "From what I understand, they originally tried to launch commercially in Europe. What's surprising is that they didn't manage, given Europe's strengths in this field."

Hånell sees the decision as a pragmatic one. "They can probably succeed more easily in the US by leveraging their investors' networks. Just look at their board and cap table," he adds. "This might be a sign that their product-market fit didn't hold up in Europe – but they need money, and capital is still available in the US. Though perhaps I'll have to eat those words."

This might be a sign that their product-market fit didn't hold up in Europe

Hånell is cautious about drawing broad conclusions, but he notes a clear shift in European risk capital. "There's been a sharp pivot towards defence and security in Europe, making electrification funding harder to secure."

He also questions whether Sweden may have overestimated its grip on Heart Aerospace. "It might've been a bit naïve to think they'd commit here. There were already signs they were US-bound – after all, they went through Y Combinator in San Francisco, which has ties to top-tier entrepreneurs from companies like Facebook and Apple. Perhaps they rode the Northvolt wave a bit, and people believed they'd attract strong political support at home."

Hoping for continued ties to Gothenburg

Johan Trouvé, CEO of the West Sweden Chamber of Commerce, regrets that 75 jobs will be lost in Sweden – but is optimistic that the affected employees will find new roles, given their specialised skills.

"It's a shame they're leaving Gothenburg, but they flagged this a year ago. It's important to point out that this has nothing to do with Trump-era tariffs – it's about customers and investments," he says.

Trouvé believes Heart Aerospace will maintain some form of connection to Gothenburg, though it's unclear what that might look like. "The city has great electrification potential. The move isn't about a lack of skills or infrastructure here," he says.

Impact Loop has reached out to Heart Aerospace for comment from founder Anders Forslund, but he has yet to respond.