Toyota and Joby Complete the First International Air Taxi Flight

Toyota and Joby Aviation’s air taxi has completed its first international flight in Japan, marking the beginning of a new era in travel.

The air taxi flight was conducted in Shizuoka, Japan at Toyota’s Higashi-Fuji Technical Center. It was completed in sight of Japan’s Mount Fuji and was meant to celebrate the two companies’ seven-year partnership. Joby wished to show the craft’s low acoustic footprint in flight and that it is entirely carbon emission-free.

The revolutionary air taxi

After signing an agreement for Toyota to supply key powertrain and actuation components for the air taxi, Toyota engineers are collaborating with the Joby Aviation team in California on the project.

“Our first overseas flight marks a significant milestone on our journey towards making clean air travel an everyday reality,” said JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby Aviation, in a press release. “We share Toyota’s vision for the future of mobility and are honored to have had the opportunity to present a glimpse of that future through our flight in Japan.”

The Toyota-powered Joby air taxi is an engineering feat. The craft can carry a pilot and four passengers at 200 miles per hour. The machine travels rapidly, producing zero carbon emissions and significantly less noise than helicopters. The combination of high speed, no carbon emissions, and a low acoustic footprint makes it a quick and sustainable mode of travel with an eye to the future that seamlessly integrates into day-to-day life.

After the project’s first successful flight, the companies want to deepen their collaboration and make air taxis a part of travel worldwide.

“Air mobility has the potential to change our ‘sense of distance and time’ and open a future with the new option of air mobility that will further enrich the lives of many people,” said Hiroki Nakajima, executive vice president and chief technology officer of Toyota in the press release. “Toyota is committed to deepening our collaboration with Joby, and we will continue to work together to realize our shared dreams.”

Nakajima’s statement comes after Toyota agreed to invest $500 million in Joby Aviation to aid with the certification and mass production of the air taxi. The investment will be split into two parts and is subject to conditions and regulations agreed upon by both companies. This massive investment brings Toyota’s total investment in the project to almost $900 million.

The new project aims to reduce traffic congestion for cars while minimizing environmental impacts. With increasing car usage worldwide, the air taxi can ease the burden on urban areas while simultaneously allowing for quick, easy, and environmentally friendly travel.