Toyota and Joby create a new manufacturing JV to prepare for mass production of Joby’s S4 eVTOL

Toyota Motor Corporation and Joby Aviation have formed a new joint venture focused on manufacturing preparation for Joby’s next-generation eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft, according to a market report published July 1, 2026. The arrangement is designed to help move Joby from prototype and flight development toward the production capabilities needed for larger scale operations.

The joint venture is called the Joby Toyota Aero Manufacturing Preparation Company. Toyota will hold a 51% stake, giving it majority control over the entity that will oversee the preparation work. Joby is the minority partner in the manufacturing-focused vehicle, reflecting that Joby retains the core aircraft-development ownership while Toyota contributes manufacturing know-how and scale experience.

The companies said the joint venture will be used to prepare for mass production of Joby’s S4 Series. The S4 Series is Joby’s planned eVTOL model for commercial service, and the report frames the JV as a step toward building the industrial readiness required before high-volume production can begin.

A key point is that the JV is positioned as a “manufacturing preparation” company rather than an announcement of immediate factory buildout details. In other words, the new entity’s role is to work through the industrial planning, readiness, and scaling tasks that typically come before equipment procurement and full-rate production.

From a Toyota perspective, the JV also fits the company’s broader interest in mobility technologies that extend beyond core automotive manufacturing. By taking majority control of the preparation vehicle, Toyota can set industrial standards and align the manufacturing effort with its established processes, while Joby remains centered on aircraft design and certification progress.

For Joby, manufacturing scale is a gating factor. eVTOL companies face a recurring challenge in turning flight prototypes into repeatable, high-throughput production. Creating a dedicated manufacturing-preparation structure with an automotive manufacturer majority partner suggests Joby is trying to compress the time between engineering maturity and production readiness.

The July 1 report does not provide additional specifics such as the JV’s planned locations, investment size, timetable for factory construction, or whether production would occur within a Toyota-operated facility. It also does not disclose any contract terms, milestone payments, or named suppliers that would indicate how the companies expect to divide responsibilities beyond the JV’s stated purpose.

Investors and industry watchers will likely look for follow-through disclosures, including whether the JV leads to announced site selection, workforce and equipment commitments, or expanded partnership agreements with aerospace-grade component suppliers. The next milestone to watch is any public update that connects manufacturing preparation work to concrete production timelines for the S4 Series.