Toyota deepens Joby bet with $250 million manufacturing push for eVTOL aircraft

Toyota is stepping up its relationship with Joby Aviation, committing $250 million toward manufacturing efforts tied to the development of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, according to a report published by Yahoo Finance.

The companies are working together through a joint venture structured to support Joby’s path to producing aircraft at scale. eVTOL refers to electrically powered aircraft designed to take off and land vertically, using rotors and aircraft control systems that can reduce or avoid the need for conventional runways.

Toyota’s latest move underscores that traditional automakers are treating advanced air mobility as an industrial strategy, not just a research topic. The bet also highlights how closely vehicle manufacturers are beginning to align with aviation supply chains, including tooling, manufacturing processes, and quality systems required for aircraft production.

Despite the increased manufacturing investment, the report says certification remains pending. Aircraft certification is the regulatory process that determines whether a design and its production meet safety and airworthiness requirements, and it typically influences production timelines and the ability to begin commercial operations.

For Toyota, which already operates across passenger vehicles, commercial transport, and mobility services, an eVTOL manufacturing partnership represents a longer-horizon diversification. If the certification timeline extends, however, Toyota’s expenditure would likely precede meaningful revenue from aircraft sales or operations.

What Toyota and Joby have disclosed in the report appears limited to the manufacturing commitment and the joint-vetting structure of the effort, without detailed milestones, factory locations, or production targets. As a result, it is not clear from the public reporting how quickly the manufacturing push translates into completed aircraft, or how the companies plan to scale output once certification is granted.

The next things investors and industry watchers are likely to monitor are the regulatory progress for Joby’s aircraft, any updates on the joint venture’s manufacturing site and operating plan, and whether additional partners or suppliers join to support ramp production. Those indicates could determine whether the investment marks the beginning of a factory buildout phase or stays largely focused on preparation for certification.