Joby Aviation says it’s on track for a commercial launch in 2026, pointing to fast progress on FAA Certification, an airport-to-city network deal via the Blade Air Mobility acquisition, and new manufacturing capacity in California and Ohio. As of August 14, 2025, the company’s filings show revenue is still tiny this year, but leadership frames 2025 as the setup period: completing the last steps of certification, standing up customer terminals, and readying production lines so aircraft can enter paid service soon after approvals arrive.
Regulatory and certification roadmap
The regulatory base took a major step in October 2024, when the FAA finalized a Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) that creates an operating framework for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in the United States 🇺🇸. The SFAR includes rules for pilot training and commercial operations.
Joby has described this SFAR, developed under the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act, as the “final piece of the puzzle” for starting air taxi service, and it aligns with the company’s 2026 launch plans. Readers can review FAA rulemaking materials at the agency’s official page: https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/rulemaking.
On the aircraft approval track:
- Joby reports it has completed 70% of Stage 4 in the FAA type certification process on the company side.
- The FAA’s work is over 50% complete (both figures as of Q2 2025).
- The company is targeting late 2025 for TIA (Type Inspection Authorization) flight tests — a key step before full type certification.
- Executives stress that TIA timing will directly shape the first routes that can open in 2026, so the internal schedule is built around hitting that window.
Important: TIA timing is critical — any shift will directly affect the earliest revenue-generating routes.
Financial position and near-term outlook
- Cash and short-term investments (Q2 2025): $991 million
- Expected cash use in 2025: $500–$540 million (excluding the Blade transaction)
- Q2 2025 revenue: $15,000 (vs. forecast of $59,000)
- Net loss: $0.41 per share
Management and analysts characterize these results as typical for a pre-revenue phase that is focused on certification and infrastructure rather than near-term sales.
Key risks
- Certification timing: Delays in FAA milestones could push back first flights with paying riders.
- Production scaling: Achieving planned production — including a long-term target of 500 units/year in Ohio — is essential for cost control and deliveries.
- Market adoption: Customer uptake, airport access, and integrating vertiports with flight paths will shape early revenue.
Commercial strategy and global footprint
Joby is securing early demand and airport access via strategic deals and manufacturing partnerships.
Blade Air Mobility acquisition
- In August 2025, Joby agreed to acquire Blade Air Mobility’s passenger business for up to $125 million in cash or stock.
- Blade contributes:
- Premium terminals at major New York airports
- A recognized brand
- A base of more than 50,000 passengers in 2024
- Joby says the acquisition lowers infrastructure costs and speeds customer onboarding for airport-to-city routes.
- Closing is expected “in the coming weeks,” pending customary approvals. Blade’s passenger services will continue under Joby’s ownership once complete.
Strategic investments and partners
- Toyota: Closed the first $250 million tranche of a $500 million strategic investment in 2025. Toyota is helping improve assembly lines and quality assurance, supporting the move to repeatable production. Toyota is also a key partner for Joby’s Japan plans.
- Abdul Latif Jameel: Agreement aimed at operating in Saudi Arabia.
- ANA Holdings (Japan): Joint venture to deploy more than 100 aircraft. Public demonstration flights are scheduled for October 1–13, 2025 at EXPO 2025 Osaka. Partners plan to build vertiports, pilot training, and maintenance so commercial service can begin soon after approvals and site readiness.
Defense and technology transfer
- Joby and L3Harris are developing a gas turbine hybrid variant of the aircraft, with flight testing set for fall 2025.
- The company says defense testing can accelerate technologies for commercial models while government contracts may provide early revenue.
Manufacturing and operations expansion
The production plan is expanding on two main fronts:
- California facility:
- Now 435,000 sq ft
- Capacity set to double to 24 aircraft per year by 2026
- Ohio plant:
- Planned large-scale plant with a long-term goal of 500 aircraft annually
Workforce and operational metrics:
- Headcount has tripled over five years and now tops 2,000 employees globally (mid-2025).
- Workforce grew 11% in 2024.
- Total Incident Rate reduced by 34% in 2024.
- Notable achievements include a 561-mile hydrogen-electric flight and a 19% increase in renewable energy procurement in 2024.
Revenue outlook and investor response
Joby continues to point to 2026 as the breakout year for revenue, assuming FAA certification is completed and production ramps on schedule.
- Management forecasts a 900% year-over-year increase in 2026, driven by:
- Air taxi subscriptions
- Defense contracts
- Services tied to vertiports and operations
Investor reaction:
- Stock rose more than 70% in the past month and 142% year-to-date, pushing market capitalization above $14 billion in August 2025 (per company updates).
Analysis note: VisaVerge.com highlights that followers of air taxi timelines are watching how certification milestones align with route launches, especially in the 2026 window Joby emphasizes. The core question is whether certification and infrastructure pieces land on time.
Leadership perspective and key dates
Founder and CEO JoeBen Bevirt 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.”
ANA Holdings President and CEO Koji Shibata said air taxi service can help with Japan’s urban travel strains and offer a new, efficient way to move around cities.
Key dates and near-term milestones:
- Late 2025 — TIA flight tests planned.
- Near term — Blade passenger business deal expected to close.
- October 1–13, 2025 — Public demonstration flights at EXPO 2025 Osaka.
- 2026 — Target for commercial operations in the U.S., Japan, and Saudi Arabia (contingent on certification and site readiness).
Bottom line — the next 6–12 months
Joby’s path rests on two practical questions:
- Will the FAA sign off on time?
- Can Joby deliver aircraft at the pace its partners expect?
The next six to twelve months — driven by certification audits, TIA flights, and factory output — will provide the answers.
This Article in a Nutshell
Joby positions 2025 as a setup year, finishing FAA certification steps, building terminals and production. With Blade acquisition and Toyota support, Joby aims to begin commercial eVTOL air taxi service in 2026 if TIA flight tests and certification milestones hold to schedule.
