Toyota and Joby Aviation have made history with the successful completion of Japan’s first-ever air taxi flight. Earlier this week, Joby’s aircraft took to the skies at Toyota’s Higashi-Fuji Technical Center, located in Shizuoka Prefecture, offering a glimpse into the future of clean, electric air travel. The flight was particularly special as it took place against the stunning backdrop of Mount Fuji, adding an extra layer of significance to this milestone event.
This flight marks a key moment in the seven-year-long partnership between Toyota and Joby. Since the collaboration began, Toyota has provided critical support to Joby through its wealth of knowledge in automotive manufacturing and technology. Toyota engineers now work alongside Joby’s team in California, helping to advance the design and production of Joby’s electric air taxis. As part of their ongoing collaboration, the companies reached a major agreement in 2023, with Toyota committed to supplying key components for Joby’s aircraft, including the powertrain and actuation systems.
The event not only showcased the aircraft’s innovative features but also highlighted its impressively low noise levels — an important aspect for urban air mobility, where minimizing disruption to communities will be crucial. Joby’s fully electric design promises emissions-free flights, presenting an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional air travel.
Speaking about the flight, Joby’s founder and CEO, Joe Ben Bevirt, expressed his enthusiasm about the progress being made. “Our first overseas flight marks a significant milestone on our journey towards making clean air travel an everyday reality,” said Bevirt. “We share Toyota’s vision for the future of mobility and are honored to have had the opportunity to present a glimpse of that future through our flight in Japan.”
Toyota’s involvement in the air taxi project reflects its ongoing commitment to revolutionizing transportation. Hiroki Nakajima, Toyota’s Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, was on hand at the event to emphasize the potential of air mobility to transform everyday life. “Air mobility has the potential to change our ‘sense of distance and time,’ and open a future with the new option of air mobility that will further enrich the lives of many people,” said Nakajima. “Toyota is committed to deepening our collaboration with Joby and we will continue to work together to realize our shared dreams.”
The successful flight comes at a time when Toyota is ramping up its investment in Joby. Just weeks ago, Toyota announced an additional $500 million investment to support Joby’s efforts to certify and commercially produce its air taxis. This brings Toyota’s total financial commitment to $894 million. Alongside this investment, the two companies plan to form a manufacturing alliance that will help bring Joby’s air taxis to market. The investment is structured in two equal tranches, with the second tranche contingent on regulatory approvals and the finalization of agreements related to manufacturing and other strategic aspects of the partnership.
The investment also sets the stage for the commercial production of Joby’s electric air taxis, which are expected to offer a revolutionary new mode of transportation, particularly for urban environments. As both companies continue to push forward with their vision, this flight marks just the beginning of what promises to be a game-changing era for aviation.
The future of air mobility is taking shape, and with Toyota’s engineering expertise and Joby’s innovative approach to aviation, the dream of flying electric air taxis could be closer than ever.