Joby Aviation and Toyota have formed a joint venture covering the initial phase of their manufacturing alliance, pairing Joby's electric aircraft development with Toyota's production and operational systems.

The venture will begin by laying groundwork for commercial production, with work focused on productivity, quality and cost. It will later support expansion of Joby's manufacturing capacity as the company works towards certification of its electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft and prepares for anticipated demand.

“Toyota has been by Joby's side for nearly a decade, providing invaluable guidance and support as we built the foundation for manufacturing our aircraft,” says JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby Aviation. “We share a vision of making aerial mobility an everyday reality.”

The joint venture formalises a relationship between the two companies dating back almost ten years, during which Toyota has supported Joby's manufacturing development. Toyota previously invested in Joby as part of that partnership. The two firms will continue working together through the venture as Joby scales towards certified production of its eVTOL aircraft.

Akio Toyoda, chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation, adds: “Since our founding, we've been guided by the philosophy of providing mobility for all. We see air mobility as a natural extension of that philosophy, from the ground into the sky, and as a way to bring new value to people's lives and to society.”