SAN FRANCISCO, CA, Mar 17, 2026 – Joby Aviation has completed a series of demonstration flights across the San Francisco Bay Area, putting its electric air taxi system into an urban environment. The flights show how urban air mobility can address traffic congestion in one of the most gridlocked regions in the U.S. With thousands of test flights and more than 50,000 miles logged, the company is advancing toward commercial eVTOL service in the U.S.
Joby kicked off its 2026 Electric Skies Tour with a demonstration flight from Oakland International Airport, starting a national program tied to the United States’ 250th anniversary. Piloted by Andrea Pingitore, the (N545JX) aircraft flew across the Bay toward the Golden Gate Bridge and turned above the Marin Headlands.
The tour follows Joby’s selection in multiple winning applications under the White House-backed eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP), enabling early operations across 10 states: Arizona, Florida, Idaho, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, and Utah.
“The Bay Area is home to the world’s most innovative companies, including Joby, but it’s also an area with significant traffic and unique geographical barriers,” said JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby. “Our technology provides an opportunity to build on the immense potential of this region while protecting it for the next generation. By providing clean, quiet service with minimal infrastructure investment we are making flight an everyday reality for the community.”
Joby has flown its first FAA-conforming aircraft for TIA, enabling FAA pilots to begin “for credit” certification tests later this year. The aircraft design targets safety, acoustic performance, and operational efficiency for urban air mobility operations.
Rising population density and congestion are straining ground transport, making the Bay Area a business center for air taxis. San Francisco drivers lost an average of 112 hours to traffic in 2025, ranking third in the U.S. Joby is developing air-based transport to reduce commute times, supported by partnerships with Uber and Delta Air Lines to connect ground and air travel.
Joby is expanding its manufacturing footprint to support higher production volumes, including a 700,000-square-foot facility in Dayton, OH, along with sites in Marina and San Carlos, CA. The company plans to scale output to up to four aircraft per month in 2027, with the Dayton facilities designed to support up to 500 aircraft per year.
Source: Joby Aviation
About Joby Aviation
Joby Aviation develops electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for urban air mobility. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Santa Cruz, CA, the company is building a piloted, five-seat aircraft intended for short-range passenger transport with an estimated range of about 100 miles and a top speed of 200 mph. Joby works in the aerospace, defense and air-mobility sectors, with operations that include aircraft development, parts manufacturing and fleet services in CA and OH. The company plans to operate its air-taxi service and also sell aircrafts. Joby is pursuing FAA certification to support a planned commercial launch targeted for 2026.