IndustryEmbraer could begin assembling E175 regional jets in India as early as 2028 if it secures orders for at least 200 aircraft, chief executive Francisco Gomes Neto said in comments to Reuters.
The plan follows a memorandum of understanding signed earlier this year with India’s Adani Group to study the creation of a final assembly line for the first-generation E-Jet family in the country. Embraer currently produces its commercial aircraft exclusively in Brazil.
According to Gomes Neto, the investment would only move forward if the company obtains sufficient demand. “We will not start a significant investment without orders. To set up an assembly line, we need at least 200 aircraft to be produced there,” he said.
If those commitments were secured by the end of 2026, Embraer estimates it could begin delivering Indian-built aircraft in 2028, a timeline of roughly two years to establish the production line.
Securing that volume of orders may prove challenging
The E175-E1 has historically depended almost entirely on the United States regional airline market.
By the end of 2025, Embraer had accumulated 1,003 firm orders for the E175. Of those, 813 aircraft had already been delivered, the vast majority to U.S. regional carriers operating under scope clause limits that restrict aircraft size.
See also: India weighs Embraer E175 and Yakovlev SJ-100 for regional production plans
Outside North America, demand for the type has been relatively modest. That raises questions about whether Embraer could quickly gather the 200 orders required to justify a new assembly line.
India nevertheless offers long-term potential. The country’s domestic aviation sector is expanding rapidly, while regional connectivity remains limited. Embraer has identified roughly 1,800 routes in India that could be served by aircraft in the E175 category, which seats up to 88 passengers.
Industry observers note that building a local production line could therefore take time unless the program benefits from government incentives or commitments from Indian airlines.
A facility in India would also allow Embraer to focus its Brazilian production lines on the newer E2 generation of E-Jets, which has seen stronger demand in recent years.
