Air taxis take flight: Joby Aviation’s new plant fuels new concept of urban mobility
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Joby Aviation has entered a decisive phase in its manufacturing journey, doubling the footprint of its Marina, California, facility to meet the growing demand for electric air taxis. The newly expanded 435,500-square-foot site now has the capacity to produce up to 24 aircraft annually, a marked increase from its previous output rate of 12. This output equates to approximately one aircraft every two weeks.
More than just an expansion, the Marina facility is being transformed into a multi-role hub. It serves as a production site and a foundation for testing, maintenance, and training activities. The facility plays a pivotal role in supporting Joby’s goal of securing FAA production certification, a milestone critical to beginning commercial operations. The plant has already produced the company’s sixth prototype aircraft, which received its special airworthiness certificate within a week of rollout.
This local expansion is being supported by a $9.8 million grant from the state of California and tooling and equipment incentives valued at nearly $10 million. These measures position Joby to create hundreds of new manufacturing jobs while addressing short-term demand for advanced air mobility solutions in key domestic and international markets.
Dayton facility aims for high-volume output in long-term strategy
While the Marina plant focuses on smaller-batch production and near-term certification goals, Joby’s facility in Dayton, Ohio, represents the long view. Backed by a $500 million investment and aided by state and federal incentives, the Dayton site is intended to scale production capacity to as many as 500 aircraft per year.
The Dayton operation has begun ramping up, with a focus on building and testing components to support both the California assembly line and future large-scale manufacturing. Its location offers strategic access to a strong aviation labor pool and well-established supplier networks.
The project is expected to create between 1,200 and 2,000 jobs, anchoring Joby’s long-term production strategy in a region with deep aerospace ties. It is a two-track approach: launch pilot production in Marina and bring high-throughput manufacturing online in Dayton.
Toyota’s manufacturing support plays a critical role in scale-up
Toyota, a strategic investor in Joby, has embedded engineers at Joby’s production sites to support manufacturing readiness. The automaker’s contributions include customized tooling, production line improvements, and techniques drawn from decades of lean automotive manufacturing.
Toyota’s presence adds technical strength and operational credibility. It reinforces confidence among regulators, investors, and future customers. For Joby, the alliance offers more than capital; it provides precision support during the critical transition from prototype to production.
This collaboration helps close a common gap faced by aerospace startups: building aircraft at scale with the consistency and reliability regulators expect. With Toyota involved, Joby’s ramp-up plan gains additional certainty and speed.
Dubai to be first city with commercial air taxi service by 2026
Joby plans to launch its first commercial air taxi service in Dubai in early 2026, under a six-year exclusive agreement with the city. The partnership grants Joby access to Dubai’s vertiport infrastructure and offers a regulated pathway to begin urban flight operations.
Dubai provides a favorable launch environment with modern transportation policy, government coordination, and public support. Joby has already delivered its first aircraft and completed early test flights in the region.
A successful rollout in Dubai could serve as a model for other global cities. By demonstrating safe, scheduled operations in one of the world’s most connected hubs, Joby is positioning itself for expansion into larger US markets once FAA approvals are finalized.
Joby Aviation’s market position strengthens with stock rally and funding
Investors reacted strongly to the news of the manufacturing expansion. Joby’s stock climbed more than 17 percent in a single day, contributing to a 55 percent gain in July and doubling its value since the beginning of the year.
This performance reflects growing market confidence in Joby’s ability to deliver. Its three-pronged strategy, short-run production in California, scale-up in Ohio, and commercial rollout in Dubai, demonstrates both urgency and vision.
Among eVTOL developers, Joby remains one of the few with certified aircraft in test, facilities in production, and a public roadmap to service launch. The recent investments suggest it is not just chasing headlines but laying the groundwork for commercial success.
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