Joby Aviation is gearing up (literally) eVTOL production in the US as it prepares for scaled commercial operations. The company is ramping up capabilities and its two current facilities in two states, leveraging the insight from its long-term investor, Toyota.
If you have any interest in the blossoming eVTOL and air taxi industry, Joby Aviation ($JOBY) is a name you’re going to want to take note of as it continues to advance as one of the leaders in the space. The California-based aviation specialist continues publicly showcasing that it has the tech and financial backing to reach scaled eVTOL production en route to commercialization and paid air taxi flights in the US and beyond.
We’ve already seen Joby complete demonstration flights in New York City, teasing a future of full-fledged eVTOL air taxi operations initially planned for sometime in 2025. In 2024, Joby announced a definitive agreement with the government of Dubai to begin air taxi operations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), including exclusive rights to aerial operations in the country’s capital for six years.
As of June, Joby had begun piloted flights in the region as it continued to bolster eVTOL production in the US. In the fall of 2024, Joby took an experimental eVTOL air taxi to Japan for its first international demonstration flight above Shizuoka with a beautiful view of Mt. Fuji as its backdrop, through a long-standing partnership with Toyota.
As a partner and massive investor in Joby Aviation, Toyota and its team of engineers have recently helped counsel the design and workflow of the former’s recently expanded production facilities.
Joby expands eVTOL production in California and Ohio
Per an update from Joby Aviation this morning, it has expanded its Marina, California, production facility (pictured above) to approximately 435,000 square feet, enabling it to double its annual aircraft output.
Once fully operational, Joby’s California facility is expected to produce up to 24 eVTOL aircraft annually. It will also host the company’s initial FAA production certification, ground and flight testing components, pilot training simulators, and aircraft maintenance.
Joby’s other footprints include its headquarters in Santa Cruz, California, a powertrain and electronics facility in San Carlos, California, and a newly renovated facility in Dayton, Ohio, where Joby plans to manufacture and test the components for its pilot production line.
Joby stated that the Ohio facility will be crucial in production certification and its targets for scaled eVTOL operations. Joby’s chief product officer, Eric Allison, elaborated:
Reimagining urban mobility takes speed, scale, and precision manufacturing. Our expanded manufacturing footprint in both California and Ohio is preparing us to do just that. We celebrated the opening of the new facility with the flight of our sixth aircraft, which earned airworthiness certification within a week of completion.
To achieve certified production and scaled commercial operations more quickly, Joby enlisted the help of Toyota’s engineers to assist in the expansions of its production facilities. Per the release:
Toyota engineers are deeply integrated with the Joby team, providing counsel to support Joby’s work across design, manufacturing, and quality. Toyota also helps the Joby team optimize processes, streamline assembly, and offer advice related to the development of custom tooling to accelerate production.
While the Marina facility is crucial to Joby’s immediate growth, Dayton will eventually become home to most of Joby’s eVTOL manufacturing, as the site could eventually build as many as 500 aircraft per year.
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