Toyota Motor Corporation has partnered with Joby Aviation to execute the first international exhibition flight of Joby’s electric air taxi, marking a key development in air mobility.
A Milestone for Air Mobility
The historic flight took place at Toyota’s Higashi-Fuji Technical Center in Shizuoka, Japan, earlier this week, showcasing the potential of emissions-free air travel. The flight near Mount Fuji emphasised Joby’s aircraft’s low noise levels, highlighting nearly seven years of collaboration between Toyota and Joby. During this time, Toyota has provided valuable insights from its vast automotive and manufacturing experience to help Joby advance its air mobility technology.
First Overseas Flight and Long-Term Agreement
The flight is a significant milestone for both companies. In 2023, Toyota and Joby signed a long-term agreement, with Toyota supplying key components, including powertrain and actuation systems for Joby’s electric air taxi. This collaboration continues to evolve, with Toyota engineers now working alongside Joby’s team in California to develop the aircraft.
Joby’s Vision for Clean Air Travel
JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby Aviation, stated, “Our first overseas flight marks a major step toward making clean air travel a reality.” He emphasised their shared vision for the future of mobility with Toyota, and their excitement to present a glimpse of this future through the flight in Japan.
A Glimpse of the Future of Mobility
The event gathered key figures from both companies, including Akio Toyoda, Chairman of Toyota, and Hiroki Nakajima, Toyota’s EVP and CTO. Nakajima highlighted air mobility’s potential to revolutionise travel, stating, “Air mobility has the potential to change our sense of distance and time.” He reiterated Toyota’s commitment to deepening collaboration with Joby to shape this transformative future.
Joby’s Electric Air Taxi
Joby’s electric air taxi is designed to carry a pilot and four passengers at speeds of up to 200 mph. With zero emissions and significantly reduced noise compared to helicopters, the aircraft aims to reduce congestion and minimise environmental impact. The new mobility service is expected to address transportation challenges in both urban and rural regions.
Investing in the Future of Mobility
Joby, founded in 2009, has completed thousands of test flights, including exhibition flights in cities like New York. Toyota’s commitment to Joby’s growth was recently reinforced with an additional $500 million investment, bringing its total investment to $894 million. This funding will support Joby’s electric air taxi certification and commercialization, marking another important step in making air mobility a reality.
The Road Ahead
Toyota and Joby’s collaboration signals a promising future for air mobility, with the companies working toward a new era of clean, efficient transportation solutions. As air taxis become a viable option for global travel, the joint efforts of these industry giants promise to reshape the way people think about mobility.
