The electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) sector took a major step forward this week as Joby Aviation (JOBY) detailed ambitious plans to significantly boost air taxi production across the United States. The goal: build up to four eVTOL aircraft per month by 2027, a major leap for a segment of aviation focused on sustainable, urban aerial mobility.
Manufacturing Expansion Across Two States
Joby’s strategy centers on scaling output at two key production hubs:
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Marina, California — the company’s established manufacturing base, handling ongoing production activities.
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Dayton, Ohio — a newer facility expected to play a central role in ramped-up manufacturing, with designs that could support crafting up to roughly 500 aircraft per year once fully operational.
By combining the experience and capabilities at both facilities, Joby aims to build a more resilient, scalable manufacturing footprint capable of meeting rising demand for advanced air mobility services. The plan reflects a broader effort to bring next-generation transportation technologies closer to everyday reality.
Support from Industry Partners
Joby’s manufacturing push is backed by support from its largest shareholder, Toyota Motor Corporation, which brings decades of automotive manufacturing knowledge to bear on the challenge of producing advanced eVTOL aircraft at scale. Toyota’s involvement helps streamline production processes and optimize assembly methods—leveraging lean-manufacturing principles from the automotive world to aerospace production.
This strategic alliance doesn’t just add capital to Joby’s expansion; it introduces manufacturing best practices that could be vital for consistently building complex electric aircraft efficiently and safely.
What the Expansion Means for the eVTOL Market
The plan to increase output to four units per month by 2027 signals confidence in both market demand and the regulatory environment. With urban air mobility (UAM) gaining broader attention from transportation authorities—including recent federal initiatives designed to accelerate advanced air mobility (AAM) development in the U.S.—Joby’s move aligns with a momentum that’s been building across industry and government.
eVTOL aircraft promise to transform short-distance travel by offering faster, quieter, and zero-emission alternatives to conventional helicopters and ground vehicles—particularly in congested cities where traditional infrastructure struggles to keep pace.
By increasing production capacity, Joby positions itself as a potential leader in this fast-evolving market—readying its manufacturing lines not just for passenger services but also future applications ranging from emergency response to cargo logistics.
Challenges and Future Prospects
Despite the bold production goal, the eVTOL industry still faces hurdles. Full FAA certification—a prerequisite for commercial passenger service in the United States—remains a key milestone that companies like Joby must clear before launching regular operations. However, recent government programs and strategies aimed at integrating advanced air mobility technologies into the national transportation fabric could accelerate that timeline.
With manufacturing scale-up underway and critical partnerships in place, 2026-2027 looks poised to be a pivotal period for Joby and the wider eVTOL ecosystem. As urban air mobility inches closer to daily use, the industry’s push to scale production is an early but essential step toward turning airborne taxis from futuristic concepts into operational reality.
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