Toyota Motor Corporation and Joby Aviation have formalized a strategic manufacturing alliance aimed at scaling commercial production of all-electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, bringing the vision of urban air taxis closer to everyday reality.
The partnership builds on nearly a decade of collaboration between the two companies. Toyota has been supplying expertise in production systems and operational excellence since the early stages of Joby’s development. The new agreement formalizes this relationship around a shared goal: producing eVTOL aircraft at commercial scale.
“For nearly a decade, Toyota has been at Joby Aviation’s side as the company built the foundation for manufacturing its aircraft,” said JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby Aviation.
Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda framed the partnership as a natural extension of the company’s mobility philosophy. “Since our founding, we’ve been guided by the philosophy of providing mobility for all. We see air mobility as a natural extension of that philosophy, from the ground into the sky,” he said.
Joby Aviation, headquartered in Santa Cruz, California, has been developing an all-electric eVTOL aircraft designed to operate air taxi services in cities worldwide, as well as sell aircraft to other operators. The company has pursued certification with US and international aviation authorities while building out its pilot production line.
A key public demonstration came in December 2025, when Joby’s aircraft conducted a week-long flight demonstration at Fuji Speedway in Japan, jointly staged with Toyota.
The manufacturing alliance is intended to optimize productivity, quality, and costs as Joby works toward certification and prepares for anticipated demand growth. Toyota’s manufacturing experience, spanning 14 plants in North America alone and the production of more than 50 million vehicles, is expected to help Joby bridge the gap between prototype-scale assembly and high-volume aerospace manufacturing.
The timeline for commercial service will depend on certification timelines, which remain subject to regulatory approvals in the US and other target markets. Both companies described the alliance as laying the foundation broadly for “the future mobility society.”
Sources: Toyota backs Joby’s all-electric air taxis as production aircraft prepare for vertical flight (Interesting Engineering, July 2026)