Against the backdrop of Mount Fuji, Joby’s electric air taxi took to the skies this week at Toyota’s Higashi-Fuji Technical Center, marking a major milestone in the companies’ partnership.
This test flight demonstrates Joby’s promise of quieter, cleaner urban air mobility—and it’s the first time they’ve taken this tech outside the US.
Toyota and Joby have been collaborating for nearly seven years, with Toyota sharing automotive manufacturing know-how and technology insights with the California-based transportation company. In 2023, the two companies also inked a long-term deal for Toyota to supply essential parts for Joby’s air taxis.
Joby’s eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) prototype, designed to carry a pilot and four passengers at speeds up to 200 mph, is poised to redefine urban transportation with zero emissions and significantly reduced noise.
Recent boosts to Toyota’s investment in Joby—now totaling nearly US$900 million—are setting the stage for commercial production and certification of these high-tech air taxis.
There’s just no word yet when these air taxis will take to the skies of Tokyo and beyond.
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