Toyota has taken another step in the development of air mobility. The automaker announced the creation of a joint venture with the American company Joby Aviation, which specializes in the development of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The new company was named Joby Toyota Aero Manufacturing Preparation Company.

The joint venture will be located in California, with Toyota holding a controlling stake of 51%. The main task is to prepare a production base for the mass production of air taxis, combining Joby's experience in aircraft development with Toyota's manufacturing technologies.

In the first phase, the partners will focus on creating an efficient production system. The companies intend to increase productivity, assembly quality, and reduce the cost of future aircraft. At the same time, Joby's production capacity is planned to be expanded to prepare for the expected growth in demand for this new type of transport.

For Toyota, this project is a continuation of its long-standing cooperation with Joby. The Japanese concern has been investing in the company since 2020, having already invested hundreds of millions of dollars. Earlier, the manufacturer also announced additional investments of 500 million dollars, confirming its long-term commitment to the development of air mobility.

Akio Toyoda, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Toyota, noted that since its founding, the company has strived to provide freedom of movement for people, and the development of air transport is a logical continuation of this philosophy. According to him, expanding cooperation with Joby brings closer the creation of a transport system of the future.

Today, Joby Aviation is developing an electric air taxi designed for four passengers and a pilot. The aircraft is equipped with six tilting rotors, can reach speeds of up to 322 km/h, and uses four independent battery packs with redundancy of key systems to enhance safety.

The company expects to integrate air taxis into the existing transport infrastructure. To this end, Joby is already collaborating with Uber and Delta Air Lines to combine car trips and air travel into a single transport chain in the future.