Joby Aviation

Joby Aviation is an American flying taxi developer. The company develops a four-seater aircraft with vertical take-off and landing, equipped with an electric power plant (eVTOL). Its maximum speed is 322 km/h, and its range is 241 km.

History

2022: Obtaining the first US permit for passenger transportation by flying cars

At the end of May 2022, Joby Aviation received the necessary certification from the US Federal Aviation Administration to begin commercial transportation by flying cars. This is the first such permission for the American market.

Joby Aviation is engaged in the development and production of electric vehicles with vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) and plans to launch an air analogue of Uber in 2024. However, before the company can operate eVTOL as an air taxi, it needs to obtain two more certificates: for the type of device and production. Permission received from the US Federal Aviation Administration will allow Joby Aviation to fly on test routes.

Joby Aviation does not disclose exactly what routes the company is going to fly, but in May 2022 the company is already flying a shuttle for employees between San Jose and Marina in California. The company has two prototypes, but it does not report how many vehicles it plans to build by the initial launch.

US issued permission for passenger transportation by flying cars

The procedures we have prepared provide the basis for our future operations. eVTOL Already in the summer of 2022, we will use our Part 135 certificate to implement operational and client technology platforms that will underlie our multimodal travel sharing service, as well as to improve our procedures to ensure safe and unhindered travel for our customers, "said Bonny Simi, head of aviation operations and personnel at Joby Aviation.

Initially, Joby Aviation will use existing infrastructure and underutilized assets, such as parking garages and helipads, to dock air taxis while the company works to create a network of vertiports with partners. In March 2022, Joby Aviation announced that it would cooperate with CAE, an aviation trainer, to develop and qualify simulators to simulate flight so that pilots with a commercial rating can learn how to manage eVTOLs.

The company also collaborates with Macquarie Capital, an infrastructure asset manager; Signature Aviation, a provider of private airport landing sites; and Related Companies, New York's largest landlord, to develop vertical ports before commercial launch. On May 19, 2022, Joby Aviation acquired Avionyx, which develops software for the aerospace industry and helps aviation companies obtain appropriate certificates.

Joby Aviation intends to launch its own application to provide passengers with access to its air taxi service, but it is planned that it will also be integrated into the Uber application, and vice versa.^[1]

2020: Purchase of Elevate flying taxi division from Uber

In early December 2020, Uber sold its Elevate flying taxi division to California electric aircraft developer Joby Aviation. However, the companies describe their deal as a "new way of partnership," since under the contract Uber also invests $75 million in Joby Aviation. More details here.

2019: Toyota invested $394 million in Joby Aviation

In mid-January 2020, it became known about the investment of Toyota in Joby Aviation. The amount of investments amounted to $394 million.

According to Toyota, the cooperation begun will be mutually beneficial, since the developments of the Japanese manufacturer are well suited to meet the needs of the developing air transportation market.

It became known about the investment of Toyota in Joby Aviation

Toyota President Akio Toyoda noted that the agreement with an innovative American company sets goals for the development of air transportation and "revolutionary changes in the transport of the future." Toyota's experience, in turn, will be useful in the production of "highly reliable complex equipment on an increased scale," which they plan to organize in California, he added.

Air transportation is a long-term goal for Toyota, and although we continue our work in the automotive business, this agreement puts our eye on the sky, "said Akio Toyoda

Toyota believes that first of all flying taxis will be oriented to megacities with a difficult road situation.

According to Bloomberg, Toyota is actively investing in transport technologies of the future. In 2019, Toyota invested in the manufacturer of autonomous transport systems Recogni and the operator of self-driving buses May Mobility. At the foot of Fuji, the company intends to build a technology park for unmanned and other types of innovative transport.

Toyota is not the only company that develops a flying car. In early 2020, Porsche patented its flying car. The aeromobil is designed for two people, it is equipped with four screws, so you can perform vertical take-off and landing.^[2]

Notes