Senior Editor

Jerry Siebenmark

Billing itself as a “global mobility company,” Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corp. Wednesday announced a partnership with and a $394 million investment in&nbsp;eVTOL developer Joby Aviation. The investment makes Toyota the lead investor in Joby’s just-completed $590 million Series C financing that brings the California-based company's&nbsp;total funding to $720 million to date.

 


“Air transportation has been a long-term goal for Toyota, and while we continue our work in the automobile business, this agreement sets our sights to the sky,” said Toyota president and CEO Akio Toyoda. “As we take up the challenge of air transportation together with Joby, an innovator in the emerging eVTOL space, we tap the potential to revolutionize future transportation and life. Through this new and exciting endeavor, we hope to deliver freedom of movement and enjoyment to customers everywhere, on land, and now, in the sky.”

 


Under the partnership, Toyota executive v-p Shigeki Tomoyama will join Joby’s board, while the carmaker will leverage its expertise in manufacturing, quality, and cost controls for the development and production of Joby’s piloted, four-passenger eVTOL.&nbsp;

 


Toyota’s investment and expertise are expected to accelerate the development and certification of Joby’s eVTOL. “This collaboration with Toyota represents an unprecedented commitment of money and resources for us and this new industry from one of the world’s leading automakers,” said Joby founder and CEO JoeBen Bevirt.

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Toyota Invests Big In eVTOL Developer Joby

Toyota Motor Corp. also will provide Joby Aviation with expertise in manufacturing, quality, and cost control of its eVTOL.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Kerry Lynch

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Long-range business jet has accumulated 65 city-pair records

Gulfstream G700 Heads to MEBAA Show with Cert in Hand

Charles Alcock

Issues regarding financing of aircraft; aviation insurance; tax issues for aircraft operators; new companies and people in the aviation financing and insurance industries.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

Twin pusherprop aircraft is being used to train military pilots

Piaggio Delivers Three More Avantis to Italy‘s Air Force

Buying an aircraft is a major acquisition, and it pays to have a professional on your side

Flying Privately: Buying an Aircraft with a Broker

Joseph Carfagna Jr.

Certainty benefits the preowned business aircraft market

AINsight: Election Results and the Fence

Ultra-long-range model has amassed 75 records, many from customer trips

Speed Records Abound for Bombardier's Global 7500

We talk through the process from conception to delivery

Flying Privately: How Aircraft Like the Bombardier Global 8000 Come to Life

Hanneke Weitering

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

More In Aircraft

Gulfstream G700 Heads to MEBAA Show with Cert in Hand

Long-range business jet has accumulated 65 city-pair records

Piaggio Delivers Three More Avantis to Italy‘s Air Force

Twin pusherprop aircraft is being used to train military pilots

Flying Privately: Buying an Aircraft with a Broker

Buying an aircraft is a major acquisition, and it pays to have a professional on your side

AINsight: Election Results and the Fence

Certainty benefits the preowned business aircraft market

Speed Records Abound for Bombardier's Global 7500

Ultra-long-range model has amassed 75 records, many from customer trips

Flying Privately: How Aircraft Like the Bombardier Global 8000 Come to Life

We talk through the process from conception to delivery

VoltAero Picks U.S. Distributor for Cassio Hybrid-electric Aircraft

AltiSky will assemble, sell, and service VoltAero's aircraft

Embraer’s Plans for a Larger Bizjet Remain Up in the Air

Company noncommittal on expanding its lineup upwards, citing $1B investment cost

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN