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Toyota and Joby Complete First Air Taxi Flight in Japan

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Joby Aviation (NYSE:JOBY) completed its first international exhibition flight at Toyota's Higashi-Fuji Technical Center in Japan. The demonstration showcased the company's electric air taxi's low acoustic footprint and emissions-free capabilities. This milestone follows Toyota's recent commitment to invest an additional $500 million in Joby, bringing their total investment to $894 million. The investment includes plans for a manufacturing alliance to support initial commercialization. Joby's aircraft is designed to transport a pilot and four passengers at speeds up to 200 mph, offering an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional transportation.

Joby Aviation (NYSE:JOBY) ha completato il suo primo volo espositivo internazionale presso il Centro Tecnico Higashi-Fuji di Toyota in Giappone. La dimostrazione ha messo in evidenza la bassa impronta acustica e le capacità senza emissioni del taxi aereo elettrico dell'azienda. Questo traguardo segue l'impegno recente di Toyota di investire ulteriori 500 milioni di dollari in Joby, portando il loro investimento totale a 894 milioni di dollari. L'investimento prevede piani per un'alleanza nella produzione per supportare la commercializzazione iniziale. L'aeromobile di Joby è progettato per trasportare un pilota e quattro passeggeri a velocità fino a 200 mph, offrendo un'alternativa ecologica ai trasporti tradizionali.

Joby Aviation (NYSE:JOBY) completó su primer vuelo de exhibición internacional en el Centro Técnico Higashi-Fuji de Toyota en Japón. La demostración mostró la baja huella acústica y las capacidades sin emisiones del taxi aéreo eléctrico de la compañía. Este hito sigue el reciente compromiso de Toyota de invertir 500 millones de dólares adicionales en Joby, elevando su inversión total a 894 millones de dólares. La inversión incluye planes para una alianza de fabricación para apoyar la comercialización inicial. La aeronave de Joby está diseñada para transportar a un piloto y cuatro pasajeros a velocidades de hasta 200 mph, ofreciendo una alternativa ecológica al transporte tradicional.

Joby Aviation (NYSE:JOBY)는 일본 도요타의 이가시 후지 기술 센터에서 첫 번째 국제 전시 비행을 완료했습니다. 이 시연은 회사의 전기 항공 택시가 낮은 소음 및 무배출 기능을 갖추고 있음을 보여주었습니다. 이 이정표는 도요타가 Joby에 추가로 5억 달러를 투자하겠다는 최근의 약속에 이어진 것으로, 총 투자액은 8억 9천 4백만 달러에 달하게 됩니다. 이 투자는 초기 상용화를 지원하기 위한 제조 동맹 계획을 포함합니다. Joby의 비행기는 조종사 1명과 승객 4명을 최대 시속 200마일로 운송할 수 있도록 설계되어, 전통적인 교통 수단에 대한 친환경적인 대안을 제공합니다.

Joby Aviation (NYSE:JOBY) a réalisé son premier vol d'exposition international au Centre Technique Higashi-Fuji de Toyota au Japon. La démonstration a mis en avant la faible empreinte acoustique et les capacités sans émissions de taxi aérien électrique de la société. Ce jalon fait suite à l'engagement récent de Toyota d'investir 500 millions de dollars supplémentaires dans Joby, portant son investissement total à 894 millions de dollars. Cet investissement comprend des projets de partenariat de fabrication pour soutenir la commercialisation initiale. Les aéronefs de Joby sont conçus pour transporter un pilote et quatre passagers à des vitesses allant jusqu'à 200 mph, offrant une alternative écologique aux modes de transport traditionnels.

Joby Aviation (NYSE:JOBY) hat seinen ersten internationalen Ausstellungflug im Higashi-Fuji-Technikzentrum von Toyota in Japan abgeschlossen. Die Demonstration zeigte die geringe akustische Fußabdruck und emissionsfreien Fähigkeiten des elektrischen Lufttaxis des Unternehmens. Dieser Meilenstein folgt Toyotas kürzlichem Engagement, zusätzlich 500 Millionen Dollar in Joby zu investieren, wodurch ihre Gesamtinvestition auf 894 Millionen Dollar steigt. Die Investition umfasst Pläne für eine Fertigungsallianz zur Unterstützung der anfänglichen Kommerzialisierung. Die Flugzeuge von Joby sind darauf ausgelegt, einen Piloten und vier Passagiere mit Geschwindigkeiten von bis zu 200 mph zu transportieren und bieten eine umweltfreundliche Alternative zu traditionellen Verkehrsmitteln.

Positive
  • Secured additional $500 million investment from Toyota
  • Established manufacturing alliance with Toyota for commercial production
  • Successfully completed first international exhibition flight
  • Toyota's total investment reaching $894 million
  • Long-term agreement for Toyota to supply key powertrain components
Negative
  • Investment subject to regulatory approvals and conditions
  • Second tranche of funding contingent on finalizing additional terms

Insights

The successful completion of Joby's first international flight in Japan, coupled with Toyota's additional $500 million investment, represents a significant milestone in the eVTOL industry. This demonstration validates both the technical capabilities and the strengthening strategic partnership between the two companies.

The manufacturing alliance with Toyota brings invaluable automotive production expertise and supply chain optimization to Joby's operations. Toyota's commitment to provide key powertrain components streamlines the path to commercialization. The total investment of $894 million from Toyota signals strong confidence in Joby's technology and business model.

The aircraft's performance specifications - 200 mph speed capacity and four-passenger configuration - position it competitively in the urban air mobility market. The demonstration's location at Toyota's facility, with Japanese aviation authorities present, suggests potential early market entry opportunities in Japan, where urban congestion and transportation infrastructure challenges could drive adoption.

This development strengthens Joby's market position through three key factors: financial backing, manufacturing expertise and international market validation. The structured two-tranche investment approach from Toyota provides clear funding visibility while maintaining strategic flexibility.

The Japanese market represents a significant opportunity, given its dense urban populations and technological adoption tendencies. The successful demonstration in front of key stakeholders, including aviation regulators, paves the way for future certification processes in international markets. The manufacturing alliance framework suggests a scalable production model that could accelerate market entry and reduce operational costs.

  • Flight took place at Toyota’s facility in Shizuoka
  • Marks Joby’s first international exhibition flight
  • Follows announcement that Toyota will invest a further $500 million to support certification and commercial production of Joby’s aircraft

SUSONO, Japan & SANTA CRUZ, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota; NYSE: TM) and Joby Aviation, Inc. (Joby; NYSE:JOBY), a company developing electric air taxis for commercial passenger service, today announced the completion of Joby’s first international exhibition flight which took place at Toyota’s Higashi-Fuji Technical Center in Shizuoka, Japan earlier this week.

A Joby production prototype electric air taxi flying in front of Mount Fuji in Shizuoka, Japan. Photo: Joby Aviation

A Joby production prototype electric air taxi flying in front of Mount Fuji in Shizuoka, Japan. Photo: Joby Aviation

The flight, completed within sight of Mount Fuji, marked an opportunity to demonstrate the low acoustic footprint of Joby’s emissions-free aircraft and celebrate nearly seven years of collaboration between the two companies, during which time Toyota has supported Joby by providing insights from its extensive automotive manufacturing and technology expertise. Toyota engineers now work side-by-side with the Joby team in California and, in 2023, the two companies signed a long-term agreement for Toyota to supply key powertrain and actuation components for the production of Joby’s aircraft.

"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. “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.”

A wide range of stakeholders gathered at the test facility for an event to celebrate the exhibition flight and historic milestone, including Akio Toyoda, Chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation, and representatives of Japan’s Civil Aviation Bureau.

At the event, Hiroki Nakajima, executive vice president and chief technology officer of Toyota Motor Corporation, said: “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.”

“Toyota is committed to deepening our collaboration with Joby and we will continue to work together to realize our shared dreams,” he continued.

Joby’s electric air taxi is designed to carry a pilot and four passengers at speeds of up to 200 mph, offering high-speed mobility with zero operating emissions and a fraction of the noise produced by helicopters. This new mobility service aims to reduce traffic congestion, minimize environmental impact, and provide transportation solutions for urban and rural regions, demonstrating the potential to address various transportation challenges in Japan and around the world. Joby was founded in 2009 and has since completed thousands of test flights, including exhibition flights from the iconic Downtown Manhattan Heliport in New York City.

Today’s news comes weeks after Toyota committed to invest an additional $500 million in Joby, to support the certification and commercial production of the Company’s electric air taxi. The additional funds will bring Toyota Motor Corporation’s total investment in Joby to $894 million and include plans to establish a manufacturing alliance to support the first phase of commercialization. The investment will be made in two equal tranches and is subject to standard regulatory approvals and certain other conditions, finalization of collaborative and commercial agreements and, with respect to the second tranche, the finalization of terms related to a strategic alliance focused on commercial manufacturing and certain other conditions.

Media assets, including photos and footage of Joby’s aircraft flying in Japan, as well as photos of the celebratory event, are available here.

About Joby

Joby Aviation, Inc. (NYSE:JOBY) is a California-based transportation company developing an all-electric, vertical take-off and landing air taxi which it intends to operate as part of a fast, quiet, and convenient service in cities around the world. To learn more, visit www.jobyaviation.com.

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM), creator of the Prius hybrid and the Mirai fuel cell vehicle, is committed to building vehicles for the way people live through our Toyota and Lexus brands, and directly employs more than 63,000 people in North America (more than 49,000 in the U.S.).

Over the past 65 years, Toyota has assembled nearly 47 million cars and trucks in North America at the company’s 12 manufacturing plants. By 2025, the company’s 13th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.

Through our more than 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.), Toyota sold more than 2.6 million cars and trucks (more than 2.2 million in the U.S.) in 2023, of which more than one quarter were electrified vehicles (full battery, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell).

For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including but not limited to, statements regarding the development and performance of Joby’s aircraft, the growth of Joby’s manufacturing capabilities, the regulatory outlook, progress and timing; planned operations; business plan, objectives, goals and market opportunity; the timing and general completion of Toyota’s investment in Joby and the expected amount of proceeds; the satisfaction of conditions to the funding of the investment; and the commercial relationship between Toyota and Joby. You can identify forward-looking statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These statements may include words such as “anticipate”, “estimate”, “expect”, “project”, “plan”, “intend”, “believe”, “may”, “will”, “should”, “can have”, “likely” and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of the timing or nature of future operating or financial performance or other events. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those implied by the forward-looking statements. Among those risks and uncertainties are market conditions, the satisfaction of the closing conditions related to each tranche of the investment and risks relating to Joby’s and Toyota’s business, including those described in periodic and current reports that Toyota and Joby file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Toyota and Joby may not consummate the investment described in this press release and, if the investment is consummated, no assurances can be provided regarding its ability to effectively apply the proceeds of the investment or the success of the expanded alliance among Joby and Toyota. The forward-looking statements included in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release, and Toyota and Joby do not undertake to update the statements included in this press release for subsequent developments, except as may be required by law.

Joby Aviation

Investors: investors@jobyaviation.com

Media: press@jobyaviation.com

Toyota

Media: Aaron Fowles, aaron.fowles@toyota.com, 469-292-1097

Source: Joby Aviation, Inc.

FAQ

What was the significance of Joby's (JOBY) flight in Japan?

It marked Joby's first international exhibition flight, demonstrating the aircraft's low acoustic footprint and emissions-free capabilities at Toyota's facility in Shizuoka, Japan.

How much is Toyota investing in Joby Aviation (JOBY)?

Toyota is investing an additional $500 million, bringing their total investment to $894 million, to support certification and commercial production of Joby's electric air taxi.

What are the performance specifications of Joby's (JOBY) air taxi?

Joby's electric air taxi can carry a pilot and four passengers at speeds up to 200 mph, with zero operating emissions.

What is the manufacturing agreement between Toyota and Joby (JOBY)?

Toyota and Joby are establishing a manufacturing alliance for commercial production, with Toyota supplying key powertrain and actuation components.

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