Joby Aviation

Begins flight testing its first FAA-conforming aircraft built for Type Inspection Authorization, paving the way for FAA 'for credit' flight testing later in the year. Joby also wins participation in the White House-backed eIPP program, opening a path for early U.S. operations in 10 states.

Joby completes FAA Stage 4 type certification in late March 2026 — the critical airworthiness conformity review covering propulsion system reliability and fly-by-wire redundancy. The company enters Stage 5 (Type Inspection Authorization) as the final gate before a U.S. commercial certificate. Parts for nine FAA-conforming aircraft are in production, with five designated for TIA flight testing.

On April 27, 2026, Joby completes the first-ever eVTOL point-to-point air taxi demonstration in New York City — departing from JFK Airport and landing at three Manhattan heliports (Downtown Skyport, West 30th Street, East 34th Street). The 50-mile ground trip completed in approximately seven minutes, mapping future commercial routes Delta Air Lines and Uber envision for the city.

In mid-June 2026 a U.S. federal court let the core of Joby's trade-secret suit against rival Archer Aviation and a former employee proceed — centered on a confidential real-estate developer agreement — while dismissing Archer's counterclaims (which alleged Joby concealed Chinese-supplier ties) as impermissible 'shotgun pleadings,' both with leave to amend. The ruling, in a case Joby filed in November 2025, marks an early procedural win for Joby in an escalating legal battle between the two leading U.S. eVTOL developers.

On June 29, 2026, Joby subsidiary Joby Aero and Toyota Motor Corporation incorporated a Delaware joint venture to manufacture the S4 eVTOL, with Toyota holding 51% and Joby 49% and a five-member board split three-to-two in Toyota's favor. The companies intend to sign an exclusive manufacturing supply agreement granting the JV exclusive rights to build the S4, tied to regulatory milestones and a future $250 million Toyota investment tranche, deepening a partnership under which Toyota has already committed roughly $894 million.

On July 7, 2026 the UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) certified VDX — a purpose-built four-storey vertiport next to Dubai International Airport (DXB) developed by Skyports Infrastructure — as the world's first certified commercial vertiport for eVTOL operations. The ~3,100 sq m flagship hub has two take-off/landing pads, rapid charging, and passenger facilities designed to handle up to 170,000 passengers and 42,000 aircraft movements a year. It anchors the four-node Dubai network that Joby's S4 air taxi will fly, with public service directed to launch before the end of 2026.

Completes the acquisition of Blade's passenger business, adding established passenger terminals and operating experience in markets such as New York and Southern Europe to accelerate Joby's commercial launch once its aircraft is certified.

Produces the first FAA-conforming production aircraft. Announces plans for air taxi operations in Dubai with partners. Completes over 1,500 test flights totaling 33,000+ miles. Begins manufacturing scale-up at Marina, California facility.

Receives FAA Part 135 Air Carrier Certificate, allowing it to operate commercial air taxi services. Continues making progress on the type certification process with the FAA, completing key testing milestones.

Goes public on NYSE through a merger with Reinvent Technology Partners, raising ~$1.6B at a $6.6B valuation. Toyota invests an additional $394M, bringing its total investment to nearly $900M.

Acquires Uber Elevate, Uber's aerial ride-sharing division, gaining multimodal integration technology, air taxi demand modeling, and a partnership to integrate Joby flights into the Uber app.

Completes first flight of a full-scale eVTOL prototype, validating the core tilt-prop design with six electric motors that rotate from vertical (for takeoff) to horizontal (for cruise flight).

JoeBen Bevirt founds Joby Aviation in Santa Cruz, California, to develop electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft. Early years focus on fundamental eVTOL technology research and prototyping.