Officials said the project will create 2,000 jobs in the area.
September 18, 2023, 9:34 p.m. ET
• 4 min reading
The company may be one step closer to the flying commuter vehicles made famous by the animated series “The Jetsons,” as Ohio just announced that hundreds of flying taxis will be built at a facility in the state.
The company Joby Aviation Inc. has been selected to build an electric air taxi manufacturing facility at Dayton International Airport, Gov. Mike DeWine, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik and JobsOhio President and CEO JP Nauseef announced Monday known .
“Ohio’s legacy of aviation leadership begins with the Wright brothers and now continues with Joby Aviation, ushering in a new era in advanced aviation manufacturing and air mobility in Dayton,” DeWine said in a news release.
Officials said the site facility will “build, test and fly all-electric, vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) air taxis primarily used for commercial passenger operations.”
The electric air taxi will carry a pilot and four passengers and reach speeds of up to 200 miles per hour over a range of 100 miles, officials said.
According to official information, Joby plans to invest at least $477.5 million and produce up to 500 vehicles per year. Production is scheduled to open in 2025, with construction scheduled to begin next year.
Joby Aviation’s pre-production aircraft prototype at the company’s facilities in Marina, California, in 2022. Eric Adams/Joby Aviation via AP, FILE
“Ohio has a long, rich history in aviation and we are proud to bring the next chapter of that story to life in the place where it all began. As one of the top states in the country for aviation manufacturing and innovation, “Ohio will play an important role in the future of our industry and we look forward to growing our team here,” said JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby Aviation .
Joby Aviation’s pre-production aircraft prototype at the company’s facilities in Marina, California, in 2022. Eric Adams/Joby Aviation via AP, FILE
Officials said the project will create 2,000 jobs in the area.
The Federal Aviation Administration awarded Joby Aviation a special airworthiness certificate in June, allowing the company to begin test flying the prototype of its eVTOL aircraft.
Last year, Delta Air Lines announced a partnership with Joby for a “first-of-its-kind agreement” to offer customers in New York and Los Angeles “home-to-airport transportation service” using an eVTOL aircraft.
Toyota worked with Joby to design and commission the company’s pilot production line in California. The company will advise Joby as it begins manufacturing the air tax in Ohio, Joby announced.