Joby Aviation Expands eVTOL Facility to Accelerate Air Taxi Launch
Joby Aviation is making serious moves to lead the race in electric air taxi services. The company has doubled the size of its pilot production facility in Marina, California, significantly increasing its capacity to build electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. This expansion positions Joby to roll out its air taxi operations as early as 2026. With a strong push toward commercialization, many are asking: when will air taxis finally take off, and is Joby the company to deliver on the promise? This article explores Joby's production strategy, the growing eVTOL market, and what this expansion means for the future of urban air mobility.
Image Credits:Joby Aviation
Doubling eVTOL Manufacturing Capacity in California
Joby Aviation’s expanded facility now spans 435,500 square feet—doubling its previous footprint. With this boost, Joby says it can now produce up to 24 eVTOL aircraft annually, or nearly one every two weeks when running at full speed. This facility isn’t just a production hub; it’s a multi-functional site that supports federal certification, pilot training, aircraft maintenance, and flight testing. Joby’s move to scale its operations reflects its urgency to lead the eVTOL market, a space expected to disrupt both traditional aviation and urban transportation.
Importantly, this is not just about building aircraft. It’s about creating a scalable, certifiable, and maintainable eVTOL ecosystem that meets regulatory standards. The Marina facility serves as a proving ground before Joby transitions to its full-scale manufacturing facility in Dayton, Ohio—where production could reach up to 500 aircraft per year. With FAA approval processes in play, this expansion marks a strategic milestone in Joby’s commercialization roadmap.
Toyota Backs Joby’s eVTOL Vision with Investment and Expertise
A key element powering Joby's progress is the support from Toyota. The Japanese automaker, already an investor, recently released the first $250 million tranche of a promised $500 million investment. In addition to capital, Toyota engineers are lending their manufacturing expertise to both the Marina and Dayton facilities, bringing lessons from the automotive world into aviation.
This partnership reflects a broader trend: traditional automakers are entering the eVTOL market, seeing it as the next frontier of mobility. Joby benefits not only from Toyota’s funding but also from its lean production methodologies—essential for scaling safely and efficiently. This collaboration may give Joby a competitive edge as it attempts to transition from prototypes to mass production of certified aircraft.
Joby’s Timeline: Air Taxis Coming to Dubai First, Then the U.S.
Joby is not just expanding its fleet—it recently added a sixth aircraft that earned airworthiness certification just one week after completion. That speed suggests growing manufacturing maturity and confidence in its design. Looking ahead, Joby plans to launch its first commercial air taxi service in Dubai in early 2026. A U.S. rollout will follow soon after, though the company hasn’t specified which city will host its domestic debut.
The Dubai launch positions Joby to enter a city known for embracing tech-forward transportation initiatives. With strong local partnerships and a relatively supportive regulatory environment, Dubai could serve as a model for Joby’s global expansion strategy. Meanwhile, U.S. cities remain critical markets, and Joby’s continued work with the FAA is expected to shape broader regulatory standards for eVTOLs.
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