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In a historic flight in Japan, Joby and Toyota make history in electric aviation, announcing new investments and the promise of a sustainable future. The $894 million partnership is set to transform urban mobility, with eVTOL aircraft that will change urban transportation forever. The revolution has already begun
Against an imposing backdrop of Mount Fuji, a silent electric aircraft took to the skies over Japan, marking the beginning of a new era in air travel.
The historic flight, which took place on November 2, 2024, is not just a technological feat, but the starting point for a revolution in urban mobility.
With the support of an automotive industry giant, Toyota, Joby Aviation has achieved a landmark achievement: the first flight of its eVTOL aircraft outside the United States.
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A demonstration that sustainable urban air mobility is increasingly closer to becoming a reality.
First international flight: a demonstration of innovation and partnership
The flight took place at Toyota's Higashi-Fuji Technical Center, a location known for its expertise in innovation.
The aircraft, which can take off and land vertically, is designed to operate in urban areas, reducing transportation challenges that large cities face, such as congestion and noise pollution. During the event, prominent industry leaders witnessed the demonstration.
Guests included Akio Toyoda, president of Toyota Motor Corporation, Ted Ogawa, CEO of Toyota North America, and Hiroki Nakajima, CTO of the Japanese company. The presence of these important names is a reflection of the importance of this milestone for the future of mobility.
The Joby and Toyota Partnership: Seven Years of Collaboration and Investment
This achievement would not have been possible without the strong partnership between Joby Aviation and Toyota. With a collaboration that has spanned almost seven years, the two companies have come together to transform the way people move around cities.
Toyota, with its vast experience in the industry automotive, not only invested significant financial resources, but also shared its knowledge and technologies in the development of the aircraft.
The partnership resulted in an $894 million investment in Joby, with an additional $500 million announced in October 2024 to accelerate commercial production of the eVTOL aircraft and its certification.
According to JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby Aviation, the partnership with Toyota has been fundamental to the company's success.
“Toyota’s shared support has been essential to our journey, and we are now ready to take our vision of sustainable air transport to the next level,” he said.
This additional investment by Toyota is not only an injection of capital, but also a confirmation of both companies’ commitment to innovation in the transportation sector.
Advancing eVTOL aircraft production and certification
The development of aircraft Joby’s eVTOL continues at a rapid pace. The company recently rolled out the third aircraft from its pilot production line in Marina, California, and is expanding its manufacturing capacity.
Construction of a new production facility, which will more than double the company's manufacturing footprint, is also underway.
These advances are clear signs that Joby is preparing for large-scale production of its electric aircraft.
Additionally, Joby is firmly on track with its certification process, with the fourth of five stages of the type certification process completed by August 2024.
This progress is a vital step towards ensuring the aircraft can be used commercially, which includes obtaining all necessary regulatory approvals.
The goal is to ensure the aircraft is safe, efficient and viable for large-scale use.
The future of sustainable air mobility: challenges and opportunities
Toyota’s investment in Joby is part of a larger effort to transform air transportation into a viable solution for the urban transportation of the future.
The vision shared by both companies is a sustainable air mobility system that can alleviate traffic challenges in large cities and offer an efficient alternative to land transportation.
According to Ted Ogawa, CEO of Toyota North America, the future of mobility is sustainable, and Joby's vision of using electric flight to solve complex urban problems is a huge opportunity.
Toyota, which has already supplied key components for the aircraft such as the power and actuation system, is not only investing financially but also putting its expertise into developing manufacturing and engineering processes.
Toyota engineers work directly alongside the Joby team in California, which has accelerated the aircraft's production and improvement process.
The collaboration between the two industry giants is a clear example of how large companies can come together to create innovative and sustainable solutions to global problems.
A new paradigm for urban transport
The flight in Japan represents a milestone in the history of electric aviation, but it is also a crucial step for the future of urban transport.
eVTOL technology has the potential to change the way people move around cities, offering a faster, more efficient and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional modes of transport.
With continued investment and support from major partners such as Toyota, Joby Aviation is well on its way to turning this vision into reality.
In the near future, we may see cities with passenger drones flying over their streets, offering a quick and silent way to travel from one point to another.
That future may seem distant, but the advances made so far by Joby and Toyota are signs that it is closer than we think.
Do you believe that the future of sustainable air transport is promising? What will be the biggest challenges to making eVTOL aircraft a reality in your daily life?
