Joby Aviation Inc. (NYSE: JOBY) is closing in on its dream of launching electric air taxis. The California-based company has spent years building its all-electric, vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, designed for fast, quiet, and convenient city travel.
This August, Joby made a series of bold moves that pushed it closer to commercial operations, from a high-profile acquisition and defense partnership to major FAA progress and manufacturing growth. Investors noticed, sending the stock near record highs.
Blade Deal Unlocks Instant Market Access and Growth
One of the month’s biggest headlines came on August 4, when Joby announced plans to acquire Blade Air Mobility’s passenger business for up to $125 million in cash or stock.
The deal is a game-changer. Blade brings premium infrastructure, including dedicated terminals at major New York airports and a strong presence in Southern Europe. More importantly, it comes with a loyal customer base — more than 50,000 passengers flew Blade in 2024.
By absorbing Blade’s passenger operations, Joby gains instant market access without the time and expense of building from scratch. The acquisition is expected to slash infrastructure costs, speed up customer acquisition, and put Joby ahead of competitors in key urban corridors.
The transaction is set to close in the coming weeks, pending customary approvals. Once complete, Blade’s passenger services will continue under Joby’s ownership, setting the stage for a smooth integration.
Defense Partnership Opens a New Revenue Stream
Joby revealed another major move, a collaboration with defense contractor L3Harris.
The partnership will develop a gas turbine hybrid variant of Joby’s existing eVTOL aircraft for low-altitude defense missions. The design aims to combine Joby’s manufacturing expertise with L3Harris’ deep defense technology capabilities.
Flight testing is set to begin this fall, with operational demonstrations planned during government exercises in 2026.
This venture signals Joby’s ambition to be more than just a commercial passenger service. By stepping into the defense sector, Joby diversifies its revenue streams and showcases its aircraft’s versatility for both civilian and military use.
FAA Certification Moves Into Final Stages
On August 6, Joby shared a crucial regulatory update. It has started final assembly of its first FAA-approved electric air taxi, a major step toward Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) flight testing. This stage needs FAA-approved test plans, a certified design, and proven manufacturing — all of which Joby has achieved, with over 50% of its test plans already accepted.
The aircraft, developed over years of testing, will fly with Joby pilots in 2025, followed by FAA pilots. Structural and systems tests have confirmed its strength and readiness.
Joby’s in-house design and manufacturing have boosted development and improved quality. With new facilities in California and Ohio, backed by Toyota, the company will soon be able to build up to 24 aircraft a year.
- Joby’s balance sheet is strong, ending Q2 2025 with $991 million in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities.
The company also closed the first $250 million tranche of a $500 million strategic investment from Toyota, one of Joby’s largest and most influential partners.
For 2025, Joby expects to use between $500 million and $540 million in cash, excluding the Blade acquisition. Revenue remains small, just $59,600 expected for Q2, but growth projections are huge, with a forecasted 900% year-on-year increase from a low base.
JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby, said,
“This is a pivotal moment. Regulatory progress around the world is unlocking market access, our commercialization strategy is taking hold, and we’re now focused on scaling production to meet real demand—a challenge we’re fully committed to and working hard to deliver on.”
JOBY Stock Surge Reflects Growing Investor Confidence
Joby’s recent string of announcements sent its stock soaring. In the past month alone, shares have jumped more than 70% due to heavy trading. Year-to-date, the stock has risen 142%, surpassing its market capitalization of $14 billion.
However, volatility remains. Analyst price target changes and insider sales have caused swings, but the long-term outlook hinges more on regulatory milestones than short-term earnings.
Manufacturing Expansion Doubles Output
To meet growing demand, Joby expanded its Marina, California, manufacturing facility to 435,000 square feet. This upgrade will double production capacity to 24 aircraft per year.
Meanwhile, its newly renovated Dayton, Ohio, site is ramping up to produce and test key aircraft components. Over time, Dayton could scale to build up to 500 aircraft annually, making it a cornerstone of Joby’s manufacturing strategy.
International Partnerships Boost Global Reach
Joby is not just looking at U.S. cities. The company also announced an expanded partnership with ANA Holdings in Japan.
The two companies plan to deploy over 100 Joby air taxis starting in Tokyo, creating an urban air mobility ecosystem complete with dedicated vertiports and operational support. The partnership will leverage Toyota’s network and government cooperation to fast-track development.
Joby also signed new agreements with Abdul Latif Jameel and ANA to explore deploying approximately 300 aircraft in other markets.
What’s Next for Joby Aviation?
With the Blade acquisition, defense partnership, FAA certification progress, and global expansion, Joby is executing on multiple fronts at once.
The next 12 months will be critical. If Joby completes certification on schedule, ramps production, and integrates Blade’s passenger network, it could be one of the first eVTOL companies to operate at scale.
For now, investors are betting big that Joby’s head start, strategic partnerships, and strong balance sheet will translate into a dominant position in the fast-emerging air taxi market.
Joby Aviation isn’t just inching toward launch; it’s accelerating. From New York to Dubai to Tokyo, the pieces are falling into place for a global eVTOL network. If all goes according to plan, 2026 could be the year flying taxis move from concept to reality.
