US Air Taxi Startup Joby Aviation to Locate Manufacturing Plant in Ohio

Joby Aviation, Inc., a US company developing electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for commercial passenger service, plans to locate its first scaled aircraft production facility in Dayton, Ohio. Joby’s production aircraft is designed to transport a pilot and four passengers at speeds of up to 200 mph, with a maximum range of 100 miles.

The California-based company 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 facility is expected to start in 2024 and it is expected to come online in 2025.  

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, will continue to advise the company as it prepares for scaled production of its commercial passenger air taxi in Ohio.

JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby, says: “We’re building the future of aviation right where it all started, in Dayton, Ohio. 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."

Joby’s headquarters, research and development, and pilot production facility will remain in California.