Joby Aviation, a firm backed by Japanese automotive leader Toyota, recently conducted its first electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) test flight in Japan over the weekend, bringing the concept of flying taxis closer to becoming a reality.

Toyota's CTO, Hiroki Nakajima, was attending the event in Shizuoka and spoke praising the partnership: "We are here today to celebrate Joby's successful exhibition flight earlier this week, their first time to fly the air taxi eVTOL outside the United States. The dream that Joby and Toyota have envisioned for air mobility is finally coming close to fruition,"  

A 25-minute journey from Tokyo to Shizuoka?

Nakajima said that the air taxi could make regional travel times shorter with flights from Tokyo to Shizuoka taking only 25 minutes—an impressive leap compared to the two-hour journey by car.

Since the initial $394 million investment, Toyota has partnered closely with the eVTOL developer, offering engineering expertise and manufacturing support. Joby’s founder and CEO, JoeBen Bevirt, pointed out the unique depth of their partnership: “Toyota has now invested in Joby on multiple occasions, but more importantly, they've stood next to us in our facilities. They've helped us design tools. They've advised us on the layout of our factories. They even provide parts that go in the aircraft."

Last month, Toyota announced an additional $500 million investment in Joby, split into two tranches. The capital intended to be used in boosting the certification and manufacturing of Joby's electric air taxis will be coupled with a manufacturing agreement that sets up the manufacturing of the flying machines.

Ready for commercial flights in 2025?

Joby, supported by global partners like Uber, Delta Air Lines, and ANA, says it is planning to commercially launch next year or even later this year. Regulatory certification has also been applied for to Japan's Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB), a key step to moving from test flights to commercial operations.

Delta Air Lines, which holds a 2% stake in Joby after investing $60 million in the firm last year, further strengthens the connections of the firm with major transportation players looking to get into the air taxi market.

Joby is among the promising players in this competitive flying taxi business. The company ranked fourth in the August 2024 AAM Reality Index,– an evaluation tool created to measure the advancement of companies within the industry. It ranks behind Volocopter, EHang, and Beta Technologies, with Boeing's Wisk ranking eighth.

While Joby is moving at a breakneck pace, not all companies in the eVTOL sector have managed to secure stable funding. Germany's Lilium is reportedly facing insolvency, and UK's Vertical Aerospace is struggling with cash flow challenges. For Joby, Toyota's backing has proven instrumental in sustaining its momentum.

As flying taxis come to reality, the vision proven by Joby's latest success is a glimpse into how urban air mobility could transform how we travel, reducing congestion and unlocking new possibilities for transportation.