Joby Aviation's Shares Surge on News of Blade Acquisition and Plans for Electric Air Taxi Commercial Debut
Joby Aviation Steps Closer to Commercial Launch of Electric Air Taxis
Joby Aviation, the innovative company revolutionizing urban air mobility, is making significant strides towards the commercial launch of its electric air taxi service. Here's a roundup of the latest developments:
Flight Milestones
In an impressive demonstration of readiness for commercial operations, Joby successfully completed the first piloted eVTOL flight between two public airports in California—Marina Municipal Airport (OAR) and Monterey Regional Airport (MRY)—in August 2025. The 12-minute flight covered 10 nautical miles, showcasing vertical takeoff, wingborne flight transition, integration into FAA-controlled airspace, and vertical landing [1][2][3].
Regulatory Progress
Joby is preparing its first "conforming aircraft" for final assembly and FAA Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) flight tests in 2025. This stage involves FAA test plan approvals, design conformance to FAA standards, and manufacturing capability, moving the company closer to final certification and commercial launch of its electric air taxi [4].
International Partnerships
Joby has joined forces with ANA Holdings to accelerate the deployment of air taxis in Japan. They plan to conduct demonstration flights during EXPO 2025 in Osaka and work together on establishing a supporting ecosystem, including vertiports, pilot training, and maintenance, aiming to integrate Joby’s air transport concept into urban Japanese environments [5].
Expansion and Acquisition
Joby has expanded its manufacturing facility in Marina, California, increasing production capacity to 24 aircraft per year. The company's newly renovated Dayton, Ohio, site is now ramping up to produce and test key aircraft components, with potential to build up to 500 aircraft annually [6].
In a strategic move, Joby Aviation Inc. announced plans to acquire Blade Air Mobility's passenger business for up to $125 million. Upon acquisition, Blade's passenger operations are expected to slash infrastructure costs, speed up customer acquisition, and put Joby ahead of competitors in key urban corridors [7].
Financial Strength
Joby's balance sheet is strong, ending Q2 2025 with $991 million in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities. Joby's stock has seen a significant increase, with shares jumping more than 70% in the past month and a year-to-date rise of 142% [8].
The company has also closed the first $250 million tranche of a $500 million strategic investment from Toyota [9]. If successful, Joby could be one of the first eVTOL companies to operate at scale.
The next 12 months will be critical for Joby as they aim to complete certification, ramp up production, and integrate Blade's passenger network, setting the stage for a transformative future in urban air mobility.
[1] https://www.jobyaviation.com/press-releases/joby-completes-first-piloted-eVTOL-flight-between-two-public-airports-in-california-marina-municipal-airport-oar-and-monterey-regional-airport-mry/ [2] https://www.jobyaviation.com/press-releases/joby-completes-first-flight-of-conforming-aircraft-in-california-airspace/ [3] https://www.jobyaviation.com/press-releases/joby-completes-first-flight-of-conforming-aircraft-in-california-airspace/ [4] https://www.jobyaviation.com/press-releases/joby-reports-second-quarter-2025-financial-results-and-provides-business-update/ [5] https://www.jobyaviation.com/press-releases/joby-announces-expanded-partnership-with-ana-holdings-in-japan-to-accelerate-deployment-of-air-taxis-in-japan-and-explore-deploying-approximately-300-aircraft-in-other-markets/ [6] https://www.jobyaviation.com/press-releases/joby-announces-expansion-of-manufacturing-facility-in-marina-california/ [7] https://www.jobyaviation.com/press-releases/joby-aviation-inc-announces-plans-to-acquire-blade-air-mobilitys-passenger-business-for-up-to-125-million/ [8] https://www.jobyaviation.com/press-releases/joby-reports-second-quarter-2025-financial-results-and-provides-business-update/ [9] https://www.jobyaviation.com/press-releases/joby-announces-strategic-investment-from-toyota/
Joby Aviation's financial strength, with a $991 million cash reserve, sets the stage for securing investments, such as the $250 million tranche received from Toyota, to further finance their business' technological advancements in urban air mobility. To bolster its presence in Japan, Joby has partnered with ANA Holdings for demonstration flights, vertiport establishment, and pilot training, utilizing financial resources from investments like the one with Toyota.
