Joby Aviation has ramped up its eVTOL manufacturing plans. The California-based company broke ground on the expansion of its pilot production line in Marina, California, on April 30, and unveiled its second production prototype that recently rolled off the line.
The company said the expansion will more than double Joby’s manufacturing footprint at the Marina Municipal Airport, which is expected to begin operations next year and support the production of 25 aircraft per year.
The eVTOL developer intends to ramp those numbers up, announcing last month the acquisition of an existing facility at Dayton International Airport in Ohio, as part of Joby’s plans to develop scaled manufacturing facilities capable of producing up to 500 aircraft per year.
“This [Marina] facility will play a foundational role in our future success and it is a privilege to once again be growing our footprint and our workforce in California,” said JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby.
The expansion will be funded in part by the $9.8-million California Competes Grant awarded to Joby by the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development in November 2023. The site will also house key operations facilities, including an expanded pilot training and flight simulation center, as well as aircraft maintenance facilities.
The second aircraft that was rolled off the Marina production line is expected to join Joby’s first production prototype aircraft at Edwards Air Force Base later this year. The company said two additional aircraft are in final assembly.
“I am grateful to the local community and our many supporters who have advocated on our behalf to reach this point, and to Toyota for everything they continue to do to make manufacturing a success at Joby,” Bevirt said.
Joby’s all-electric piloted air taxi is designed to carry four passengers at speeds of up to 200 miles per hour (321 kilometers per hour).
