Toyota joins Joby Aviation in planned manufacturing push for electric air taxis

Toyota Motor, identified by its Tokyo Stock Exchange code 7203, has teamed up with Joby Aviation to create a new manufacturing joint venture focused on electric air taxis, a move that places the Japanese automaker deeper into the fast-growing effort to build and scale electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft.

The reported partnership centers on producing aircraft designed for vertical takeoff and landing, technology often grouped under the term eVTOL, and intended for commercial use rather than private or experimental operations. eVTOL vehicles typically use distributed electric propulsion to lift off vertically and transition to forward flight, enabling short-trip “air taxi” routes similar in concept to rideshare for the sky.

Toyota and Joby’s arrangement is described as a manufacturing-focused effort, indicating that the companies intend to devote attention not only to aircraft development but also to industrializing production. That emphasis is consistent with the broader industry challenge: translating prototype aircraft into repeatable, high-volume manufacturing systems that can meet certification and operational standards.

The July 1 report did not provide deal economics or operating details, such as the equity split, capital commitments, manufacturing site locations, or a target timeline for when the vehicles would enter service. It also did not specify whether Toyota’s role is limited to airframe production, component manufacturing, or broader supply-chain integration.

Toyota is not new to mobility partnerships, but its entry here highlights how automakers are increasingly looking beyond conventional car manufacturing to adjacent transportation markets where battery electric power and advanced software are expected to be central. In this case, the bet is tied to the prospect that an all-electric air taxi network could one day require the same kinds of scaling disciplines Toyota has built in automotive plants.

For Joby Aviation, partnering with an established manufacturer can be a practical path toward addressing the manufacturing and quality system demands that come with aircraft programs. Aircraft certification and production readiness are resource-intensive, and manufacturing partnerships are often used to reduce execution risk and speed up ramp-up.

Still, key specifics remain unclear from the report alone. Toyota and Joby did not disclose, in the cited post, the expected production capacity, the projected cost structure, or the commercial launch geography for the air-taxi service.

What to watch next is whether Toyota and Joby provide additional details in subsequent filings or official statements, including the joint venture’s governance, milestones tied to aircraft certification, and manufacturing schedules that clarify how quickly electric air taxis could move from development to customers.