Many proponents of American manufacturing talk about making cars domestically and helping the U.S. auto industry soar. In the case of Detroit-based drone startup Birdstop, that is literally the plan.

In its search for ways to better manufacture drones amid a surge of demand for domestically produced unmanned aerial vehicles, Birdstop decided to make use of one of the country’s most expansive industrial sectors. By strategically utilizing items from auto parts makers—80% of the parts for the company’s new Fealty drone come from companies that supply carmakers—Birdstop can build faster and cheaper.

“The appetite for domestically produced drones is very high,” said CEO Keith Miao. “This is a void we’re trying to fill.”

Miao, who comes from a satellite imagery background, started the firm in 2019. Originally based in the Bay Area, with manufacturing space in Alabama, Birdstop sought a way to manufacture drones more cheaply, without relying on expensive and limited defense industry supply chains.…