REGENT Reveals Visuals of World’s First Seaglider Manufacturing Facility
- REGENT Craft’s Seaglider Manufacturing Facility will be located at 1 Seaglider Way after agreement reached with local officials to rename street
- 255,000 square-foot site at Quonset Business Park will produce all-electric Seaglider vessels, under the management of newly appointed VP of manufacturing and supply chain
- Learn more about REGENT here.
North Kingstown, RI, September 30, 2025 — REGENT Craft, the developer and manufacturer of all-electric Seagliders, announced the vision for the world’s first Seaglider Manufacturing Facility at UP.Summit in Bentonville, Ark. The company has also reached an agreement with local officials to rename the location of the site 1 Seaglider Way.
1 Seaglider Way will be the epicentre of global Seaglider vessel production, becoming a hub for maritime innovation and representing a significant investment in America’s shipbuilding and infrastructure. The facility, which comes online in 2026, will support the delivery of REGENT Craft’s global commercial order book of more than $10 billion across six continents.
On stage at UP.Summit REGENT’s Co-founder and CEOBilly Thalheimer unveiled a concept video of the facility revealing dedicated areas for structures assembly, wing and hydrofoil integration, battery and systems installation, and water-based test and acceptance operations.
Production in the Ocean State will anchor a supply chain for high-rate Seaglider craft manufacturing, with lines designed for safety, repeatability and certification-readiness. The location within Quonset Business Park provides access to deep-water testing, established logistics and an experienced manufacturing workforce. The street renaming to Seaglider Way formalizes the site’s identity as a regional hub for maritime aerospace innovation.
REGENT has committed to creating 300 jobs, with the potential for up to 750, over the next 10 years, unlocking up to $13 million in incentives under Rhode Island’s Qualified Jobs Program.
As REGENT develops a world-class manufacturing facility, the company has hired Mark Duchesne as VP of Manufacturing & Supply Chain. Mark brings decades of manufacturing experience and will oversee the development of the manufacturing facility and Seaglider vessel production.
The unveiling of the concept video follows REGENT’s latest announcement of its partnership with Fairlead, a leader in ship repair, fabrication, and systems integration, to advance the development, production, and deployment of REGENT’s Seaglider technology for defense and logistics applications.
Billy Thalheimer, REGENT co-founder and CEO, said:
“We are seeing our manufacturing facility come to life as we look ahead to the next phase of REGENT’s journey moving from promise to production. 1 Seaglider Way will be our global manufacturing headquarters and will enable Seaglider deliveries to our billions in backlog around the world. Our plan is straightforward - complete the remaining test program, certify, and build to meet our massive global demand across commercial and defense markets.”
Mark Duchesne, VP of Manufacturing & Supply Chain at REGENT Craft, said:
“These designs show a line built for flow. We have defined clear cells for structural assembly, systems integration and final acceptance, with tooling, metrology and quality checkpoints embedded throughout. The waterfront test capability is integral to shortening feedback loops and maintaining configuration control as we scale. We are building a factory that grows with the programme. From material handling to charging infrastructure and water operations, the layout supports phased capacity increases without compromising safety or certification objectives.”
U.S. Senator Jack Reed said:
“REGENT has really been a tremendous stimulant for the state of Rhode Island economy because they have new sophisticated technology that I think everyone will realize is going to be embraced worldwide. … We will be the center of the [Seaglider] production world, and REGENT is collaborating with other companies here in Rhode Island, so they are a catalyst for additional industrial and economic development here in the state.”
Steven J. King, managing director of the Quonset Development Corporation, said:
“REGENT’s Seaglider Manufacturing Facility represents the next chapter in Rhode Island’s storied tradition of maritime and aerospace innovation, while creating hundreds of high-paying jobs for our community. With REGENT anchoring here at 1 Seaglider Way, Quonset continues to be a destination where bold ideas are built, tested, and launched to the world.”
About REGENT
REGENT is pioneering the future of maritime mobility through the development and manufacturing of SeagliderTM vessels, high-speed hydrofoiling wing-in-ground effect (WIG) craft that operate over the water within a wingspan of the surface, combining the speed of an aircraft with the convenience of a boat. A dual use company based in Rhode Island, U.S., REGENT has secured global commercial orders valued at more than $10 billion from leading airline and ferry operators around the world, as well as $15 million in contracts with the U.S. Marine Corps. REGENT has raised more than $100 million from investors including 8090 Industries, Founders Fund, Japan Airlines, and Lockheed Martin. Learn more at www.regentcraft.com