Development
In January 2020, Joby announced plans to manufacture the aircraft in Marina, California at the Marina Municipal Airport. The plans include building a 55,000 square foot production facility, followed by a 500,000 square foot factory.[14] Late in 2020, Joby Aviation acquired Uber Elevate,[15] and the U.S. Air Force announced that it had granted Joby its first eVTOL airworthiness certification as part of its Agility Prime program.[16]
In February 2021, the company announced a partnership with Garmin to provide flight deck equipment[17] and announced that it had obtained a 'G-1' certification basis for its aircraft with the FAA.[18] In May, 2021, a NOVA episode on PBS featured Joby.[19][20] The city of Marina and the FAA approved the company's plan for a production facility in June 2021.[21] In August 2021, the company announced a 155-mile flight on a single charge in 77 minutes, comparative noise tests against other aircraft and its application for air Part 135 and Part 23 carrier certifications. The battery used an 811 NMC (nickel-manganese-cobalt oxide) cathode and a graphite anode.[22] On August 11, the company went public using a special-purpose acquisition company.[23]
In January 2022, the company registered what it claimed was the fastest eVTOL flight to date, traveling at a true airspeed of 205 mph.[24] On February 16, 2022, a remotely piloted prototype crashed during a test flight in rural California,[25] sustaining substantial damage. The National Transportation Safety Board determined that the crash and subsequent fire were caused by an in-flight component failure.[26] In April 2022, Joby acquired hydrogen-aviation pioneer H2Fly, a spinoff of the DLR Institute of Engineering Thermodynamics of the German Aerospace Center.[27] In May 2022, Joby received Part 135 air service certification from the FAA, operating a fleet of Cirrus SR22s while it continues seeking certification for its eVTOL aircraft.[28][29] On June 28, 2023, the company rolled out the first production version of the aircraft and announced it had received FAA approval to flight test that version, sending its stock price as high as 42% above its previous close in midday trading.
In September 2023, Joby Aviation delivered its first eVTOL air taxi to Edwards Air Force Base in California.[30] Joby flew its aircraft in Manhattan, New York on November 12, 2023, marking the first eVTOL flight in New York City and the first time Joby has flown in an urban setting. A demonstration flight was performed at the Downtown Manhattan Heliport in conjunction with an announcement by the city of its intention to electrify the facility.[31] The autonomy division of Xwing was acquired by Joby Aviation in June 2024.[32]
On June 24, 2024, Joby Aviation's S4 eVTOL demonstrator, converted to hydrogen-electric power in May, completed a record 523 miles non-stop flight, more than triple the range of the battery powered version. It landed with 10% fuel remaining in its cryogenic fuel tank that had a capacity of 88 lb of liquid hydrogen at 22 Kelvin. The H2Fly-developed ‘H2F-175’ hydrogen fuel cell system provided the power for the six electric rotors of the eVTOL during its flight; a small battery, charged by the fuel cell, provided added takeoff and landing power. The only in-flight emission was water vapor.[33][34] The same aircraft later flew 561 miles non-stop including a vertical takeoff and landing.
In August 2025, Joby agreed to acquire Blade Air Mobility's passenger rideshare business for $125 million.[35]
On November 7, 2025, Joby Aviation’s hybrid S4-T demonstrator, developed in collaboration with L3Harris Technologies, completed its first flight at the company’s Marina, California test facility. The demonstrator integrates a gas-turbine generator with Joby’s electric vertical take-off and landing platform and has been described as a hybrid aircraft with potential military applications, representing an expansion beyond the company’s all-electric S4 air taxi program.[36][37][38]
In January 2026, it was announced that Joby had signed an agreement to acquire a second manufacturing facility in Dayton. The facility, spanning more than 700,000 square feet, is intended to support an increase in aircraft production capacity and to complement the company’s existing manufacturing operations in California and Ohio.[39]
In March 2026, Joby Aviation announced the commencement of flight testing for its first FAA-conforming S4 eVTOL aircraft at its Marina, California facility, an important step toward Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) and eventual commercial certification. The aircraft, identified as N547JX, is the first in a fleet built to FAA-approved designs and will be used to support TIA testing by both Joby and FAA pilots. [40]
