Joby Aviation, Inc., a company developing electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for commercial passenger service, has announced it plans to locate its first scaled aircraft production facility in Dayton, Ohio, the birthplace of aviation.
The Wright Brothers, who invented and flew the first powered aircraft, lived and worked in Dayton and opened the first airplane factory in the United States there in 1910. The city is also home to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, and the headquarters of the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratories, which has played a key role in supporting Joby’s development.
Joby plans to build a facility capable of delivering up to 500 aircraft per year at the Dayton International Airport, supporting up to 2,000 jobs. The 140-acre site it has selected has the potential to support significant further growth over time, providing enough land to build up to two million square feet of manufacturing space.
Construction of the scaled Ohio facility is expected to start in 2024 and it is expected to come online in 2025. Joby plans to use existing nearby buildings to begin near-term operations.
The State of Ohio, JobsOhio and local political subdivisions have offered incentives and benefits of up to $325 million to support the development of the facility, while Joby plans to invest up to $500 million as it scales operations at the site.
Joby is also announcing that it has been invited by the U.S. Department of Energy to submit a Part II Application for financing under the Title XVII Loan Guarantee Program, which provides access to low-interest loans for clean energy projects and would support the scaling of the facility.
Joby’s long-term investor, Toyota, who worked with Joby on the design and successful launch of the company’s Pilot Production Line in Marina, California, plans to continue to advise Joby as it prepares for scaled production of its commercial passenger air taxi in Ohio.
“We’re building the future of aviation right where it all started, in Dayton, Ohio,” said JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby. “The Wright Brothers harnessed revolutionary technology of their time to open up the skies, and we intend to do the same — this time, bringing quiet and emissions-free flight that we hope will have an equally profound impact on our world.
“The U.S. continues to lead the way on introducing this technology, with unprecedented levels of support across all areas and levels of government. We’re incredibly grateful to Governor Mike DeWine, Lt Governor Jon Husted, Senator Sherrod Brown, Senator JD Vance, Representative Mike Turner and the team at JobsOhio for their support, as well as the representatives of the many other states we worked with during this process.
“Our partnership with Ohio is a great example of how successful public-private partnership amongst industry, local, state and federal government can bring important new technology to life.”
Joby plans to start hiring in the coming months, with early roles expected to focus on the build out of the scaled facility and the machining of parts that will initially be incorporated into Joby’s California low-volume production line. Those interested in applying for roles at Joby’s Ohio facility can register their interest at www.jobyinohio.com.
Joby’s production aircraft is designed to transport a pilot and four passengers at speeds of up to 200 miles per hour, with a maximum range of 100 miles and a revolutionary quiet noise profile that is barely audible against the backdrop of cities.
The company plans to operate these aircraft as part of aerial ridesharing networks in cities and communities around the world, starting in 2025, building on partnerships it has developed with Delta and Uber.
An event to celebrate the announcement will be held later today at Hawthorn Hill, the home of Orville Wright. The event is expected to conclude with a ceremonial flypast of a replica Model “B” Flyer, the world’s first production airplane.
Joby’s selection of Ohio as the site for its first scaled aircraft production facility followed an extensive competitive site selection process and is contingent upon standard due diligence, state and local approvals of incentives, permitting and other legal and regulatory matters as customarily accompany such investment projects.
Joby’s headquarters, research and development, and pilot production facility will remain in California. With approximately 150 open positions across the company’s three Northern California sites, Joby continues to grow its presence in the state.
The celebratory event can be watched live at 10 a.m. ET via www.jobsohio.com/live.
Governor Mike DeWine said: “Ohio’s legacy in aviation begins with the Wright Brothers and continues with Joby Aviation as they launch a new era in aviation manufacturing and aerial mobility in Dayton. The aircraft that will roll off Joby Ohio’s production lines will redefine urban transportation and contribute to a fundamental change in the way people and goods travel. We welcome Joby and celebrate the new chapter of air mobility history that will be made in Ohio, the Heart of Aviation.”
Senator JD Vance said: “Ohio is the undisputed home of aviation. I’m excited that new, innovative flight technologies have found a home in the Dayton area, just miles away from where the Wright brothers started it all. We want to see Ohio become the research, development, and manufacturing hub for the future of military and civilian aerospace technologies. Joby Aviation’s new investment is a welcome step toward advancing that goal. I look forward to working with them and wish them the best of luck.”
Representative Mike Turner said: “Joby Aviation is a leader in aviation innovation and a pioneer in the air taxi market. Today’s announcement that Joby has chosen the Miami Valley for the site of its new manufacturing facility further signals to other companies in the aviation and innovation space that the spirit of the Wright Brothers in this region is alive and thriving. I look forward to further working with Joby to grow the future of advanced air mobility here in Dayton, the birthplace of aviation.”
Dayton Development Coalition president and CEO Jeff Hoagland said: “When Lt Governor Husted spoke at the DDC’s Annual Meeting in February 2022 and challenged us to land an eVTOL manufacturing facility in the Dayton Region, we were ready. Twenty years ago, we developed a strategy aimed at supporting an emerging industry that not only aligned with the missions at Wright-Patt, but represented the opportunity for private industry investment, as well. Our region’s eVTOL tagline has urged companies to leverage the region’s network of resources and, ‘Come here to test, stay here to build.’ Joby is doing exactly that.”
JobsOhio president and CEO, J. P. Nauseef, said: “The seeds of Joby’s historic decision enhance Ohio’s rich aviation heritage dating back to the Wright Brothers, but credit also goes to the community of Dayton, which came together to promote the important work being accomplished by the men and women serving at Wright-Patterson Air Force base in 2005 and expand its mission in the years since. With strong leadership from Governor DeWine and Lt Governor Husted, JobsOhio along with state and local partners have dedicated teams of seasoned professionals from both civilian aerospace sectors and the military who work tirelessly to retain, expand and attract missions and the aerospace industry that supports them to utilize all the advantages that come with investing and building in Ohio. To that end, this community and state have set the standard for what it means to be the most military-friendly in this nation.”
Brig. Gen. Scott Cain, Department of the Air Force Technology Executive Officer and Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) commander, said: “Through AFWERX’s Agility Prime program we have worked with several companies to accelerate the development and adoption of advanced aerial mobility technologies, such as electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, and we’re thrilled to see the results of that investment strengthening the Defense Industrial Base.”
This press release was prepared and distributed by Joby Aviation.
