Pyka has been awarded $7 million to expand production of zero-emission autonomous aircraft.

Pyka was approved last week by the California Competes Tax Credit Committee for a $7 million California Competes Tax Credit with the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz). The California Competes Tax Credit is an income tax credit available to firms that establish or expand in California. Pyka, based in Oakland, California, is boosting production of zero-emission autonomous aircraft and creating new zero-emission aviation jobs.

The credit will enable Pyka, which recently launched the world’s largest zero-emission autonomous cargo plane, to create over 140 new California jobs in engineering, manufacturing, assembly, logistics, business development and operations, maintenance, and facilities management, as well as janitorial positions.

“This support and partnership with GO-Biz accelerates our manufacturing capabilities and facilitates immediate job creation in Oakland and at our test sites across California,” said Chuma Ogunwole, Pyka Co-Founder and COO. “This award accelerates the application of California’s zero-emission autonomous aviation innovation and creates economic opportunities for communities across California.”

“We are grateful to the State of California and GO-Biz for this award, and we look forward to making California the global hub for zero-emission aviation,” Ogunwole said.

“Pyka is an ideal candidate for the California Competes Tax Credit,” Dee Dee Myers, Senior Advisor to Governor Newsom and Director of GO-Biz, said. “The company is bolstering California’s position as a leader in the electric aviation industry while also creating significant job opportunities in green energy technology.”