Where was the Ahrens AR 404 going to be built?

The AR 404 was to be manufactured in Puerto Rico. Ahrens struck a production agreement with the island's government, under which the latter would finance the aircraft's type certification if the company established its manufacturing facilities there. The commitment included help with development costs on the condition that the aircraft could be produced in the country. The American company set up a production plant in western Puerto Rico, and plans to build a factory in Ramey were underway. With money obtained from the Puerto Rican government, it was said that 1,000 local residents with no prior experience in aircraft construction would soon be delivering four aircraft a month.

A $7.5 million loan had been secured from a private Puerto Rican lender, and the Economic Development Administration had released the loan guarantee. A US government investigation into the company dragged on and prevented the development funds and loans from fully coming through. The unavailability of credit ultimately brought the project to an end, and it was abandoned once financial backing was withdrawn.

The first production aircraft was built and flown on the island on 26 October 1979, and no more were built. The program closed with only two prototypes completed, one of them airworthy. The company's executives moved on elsewhere. The first prototype was last known to be serving as a snack bar.