Strategic Partnership Between Toyota and Joby Aviation
On July 6, Toyota and Joby Aviation announced a strategic manufacturing alliance aimed at commercial production of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxis. Joby Aviation is focused on developing a fully electric air taxi capable of vertical takeoff and landing, while Toyota will contribute its manufacturing expertise. The goal of this collaboration is to make air mobility more accessible to a broad audience. This partnership reflects a growing trend in the transportation industry toward integrating aerial solutions into urban infrastructure.
Toyota has been working with Joby Aviation for nearly a decade, underscoring the depth and longevity of their relationship. Toyota boasts extensive experience in the North American market, where it has operated for almost 70 years, currently employing around 64,000 people in the region. The company has produced over 50 million cars and trucks across 14 manufacturing plants.
Demonstration Flight and Future Plans
A demonstration flight of the Joby Aviation air taxi, in collaboration with Toyota, took place at Japan's Fuji Speedway in December 2025. Joby Aviation plans to offer air taxi services in cities worldwide, as well as sell aircraft to other operators and partners. The company is currently completing its certification process in the United States, with intentions to launch in cities such as New York, Los Angeles, as well as in the United Kingdom and Japan.
Support from Toyota is a critical component of Joby Aviation's strategy. Akio Toyoda, Chairman of Toyota, stated:
“Since our founding, we have been guided by a philosophy of providing mobility for all. Over time, we have continued to expand the concept of mobility. We see air mobility as a natural extension of this philosophy—from the ground to the sky—and as a way to bring new value to people's lives and society. It is truly important for us to take on this challenge together with Joby, a partner that shares the same vision.” - Akio Toyoda
Last year, the United States signed executive orders to establish a pilot program for testing electric air taxis. However, aviation expert Robert Ditchey from Los Angeles expressed skepticism about the prospects of this service in American metropolitan areas, stating, “In U.S. megacities, this service has no future.”
Despite this, JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby Aviation, emphasized the shared vision of both companies:
“Together, we share a vision of making air mobility an everyday reality, and we look forward to jointly delivering on that promise.” - JoeBen Bevirt
The collaboration between Toyota and Joby Aviation opens new horizons for the development of air mobility, which could potentially transform how people move within cities. The success of this alliance will depend on both companies' ability to integrate new technologies into existing transportation systems, as well as consumer response to these new services. The next few years could be critical for realizing the concept of air taxis in everyday life.