Joby Aviation Plans to Enter Final Certification Phase for Five Aircraft in 2024

According to Bloomberg, JoeBen Bevirt, CEO of the American electric air taxi startup Joby Aviation, revealed that the company expects five aircraft to enter the final certification phase next year, paving the way for commercial flights to commence in early 2026. In an interview, Bevirt stated, 'By 2026, we will gradually increase the number of aircraft and expand our operational scale.' The company anticipates that next year, five aircraft will enter the FAA's aircraft type inspection authorization (TIA) testing phase, which is a necessary condition for launching commercial operations in the U.S. Bevirt mentioned during an industry conference in Detroit, Michigan, 'Launching sightseeing flights requires just one aircraft, but opening a route (especially airport shuttle routes) requires at least two.' Joby originally planned to launch commercial passenger services in Dubai by the end of this year but has now adjusted the timeline to early next year. Last month, the company announced that it had completed manned test flights in Dubai, but is still waiting for flight operation certification from the FAA and other national regulatory agencies. Joby is one of the few startups developing electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, aiming to provide short-distance commuting services through electric air taxis. Earlier this month, Joby announced plans to double the annual production capacity at its Marina, California factory to 24 aircraft per year. Additionally, the company stated that it is installing aircraft component production equipment at its new factory in Ohio, which is expected to begin operations in 2024. Bevirt noted that Joby's cash flow will come from three channels: complete aircraft sales, autonomous fleet operations, and joint ventures with partial equity stakes. 'All three channels will contribute to revenue,' he said, but declined to specify which segment would generate income first and the timeline for it. Bevirt also mentioned, 'Joby is working closely with engineers from Toyota Motor Corporation to optimize its production processes. Toyota has committed nearly $900 million to Joby and has become its largest shareholder.' At the same time, Bevirt indicated that Joby currently has no further financing plans.