japanese company toyota It stands to benefit greatly from new air mobility (electric planes capable of vertical take-off and landing, or more simply aerotaxis). A half-hour air taxi flight over Japan, with its complex landscapes, will replace a two-hour car journey that would be necessary in many cases. If you need to get to a nearby island, an air taxi will be an invaluable solution.

“We are gathered here today to celebrate Joby’s successful demonstration flight earlier this week – the first eVTOL air taxi flight outside the United States. “Joby and Toyota’s dreams for air mobility are finally close to being realized.” – said the technical director of Toyota Hiroki Nakajima (Hiroki Nakajima), speaking at an event in Shizuoka, Japan.

For Toyota, working with Joby Aviation is not just a temporary collaboration. The Japanese automaker had invested $394 million in Joby Aviation in previous years. This year, Toyota provided Joby with another $250 million and will invest another $250 million in 2025. toyota He has invested in Joby many times, but more importantly, he has worked with us on our facilities. He helped us develop instruments, advised on facility layouts, and even supplied the parts that went into the electroplane. “, Joby Aviation management proudly announced at the event.

Joby plans to begin commercial air taxi passenger transportation early next year and is working with global partners in Japan, including Uber, Delta Air Lines and ANA, according to a company representative. The company has applied to Japan’s national civil aviation regulator, JCAB (Japan Civil Aviation Bureau), for electric aircraft certification.

Joby remains one of the most promising flying taxi companies, ranking fourth in the August 2024 AAM Authenticity Index, a ranking tool for assessing the progress of industry players. First place was given to Volocopter, second place to Chinese EHang, and third place to Beta Technologies. Boeing’s Wisk ranked eighth.

But ratings are largely conditional. The German company Lilium, which declared bankruptcy, was previously considered one of the most successful companies in this field. China’s EHang, which also ranked second, has conducted numerous demonstration flights and is already delivering bulk air taxis to customers. However, Chinese aerotaxis look quite simple, if not ordinary, while American and European models look much more impressive, but so far they have nothing to boast about.