SANTA CRUZ, CA and TOYOTA CITY, Japan, July 1, 2026 – Joby Aviation and Toyota have formed a joint venture to prepare commercial production of Joby’s electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The first phase will apply Toyota production systems to production planning, quality, cost and capacity as Joby works toward aircraft certification.
The joint venture is the initial phase of the companies’ manufacturing alliance. It will combine Joby’s electric aviation work with Toyota’s production systems and operations. The alliance will first begin with the groundwork for commercial production. It will also support expansion of Joby’s production capacity as the company prepares for demand growth.
“Toyota has been by Joby’s side for nearly a decade, providing invaluable guidance and support as we built the foundation for manufacturing our aircraft,” said JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby Aviation. “Today’s announcement reflects the strength of our relationship and our shared confidence in the opportunity ahead. Together, we share a vision of making aerial mobility an everyday reality, and we look forward to delivering on that promise together.”
Akio Toyoda, chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation, commented: “Since our founding, we’ve been guided by the philosophy of providing mobility for all. Over time, we’ve continued to expand what mobility can mean. We see air mobility as a natural extension of that philosophy – from the ground into the sky – and as a way to bring new value to people’s lives and to society. It’s really meaningful for us to take on this challenge together with Joby, a partner that shares the same vision. We believe this strengthened relationship is an important step forward in realizing the future mobility society.”
Source: Joby Aviation
About Joby Aviation
Joby Aviation develops electric vertical takeoff 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.
About Toyota
Toyota is a Japanese automaker headquartered in Toyota City, Japan. Founded in 1937, the company produces and sells vehicles under the Toyota and Lexus brands, including passenger cars, SUVs, pickups, vans, trucks, hybrids, plug-in hybrids, battery-electric vehicles, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and parts. Toyota also provides vehicle financing, leasing, mobility services, vehicle software and connected-car services through group companies. The company serves individual buyers, fleet operators, dealers, commercial customers, governments and businesses. Toyota employed 72,000 people directly and 384,000 people worldwide on a consolidated basis. In North America, Toyota directly employs nearly 64,000 people, including nearly 48,000 in the U.S. It operates 14 North American manufacturing plants and more than 1,800 dealerships. Toyota sold more than 3 million vehicles in North America.