History of Joby Aviation in Timeline

Joby Aviation is a US-based company developing eVTOL aircraft for use in an air taxi service. Headquartered in Santa Cruz, California, with additional offices in California and Munich, Germany, the company aims to revolutionize urban transportation through electric vertical takeoff and landing technology. Joby Aviation is venture-backed, indicating significant investment and belief in its potential to disrupt the aviation industry.

September 11, 2009: Joby Aviation Founded

On September 11, 2009, Joby Aviation was founded as Joby Aero by JoeBen Bevirt, using proceeds from his previous ventures. The company incubated on his ranch in the Santa Cruz Mountains and initially focused on exploring electric aviation components.

2015: Operating Subscale Prototypes

In 2015, Joby Aviation was operating subscale prototypes of its eVTOL aircraft.

2017: Moving to Full-Scale Unmanned Prototypes

In 2017, Joby Aviation transitioned to full-scale unmanned prototypes of its eVTOL aircraft.

February 1, 2018: Series B Funding

On February 1, 2018, Joby Aviation announced it raised $100 million in a Series B round of funding.

2018: Series B Funding Round

In 2018, Joby Aviation announced a Series B funding round of $100 million, led by Toyota AI Ventures.

2018: First Journalist Access

In 2018, Joby Aviation granted the first journalist access to its aircraft, under the condition of non-disclosure of details.

2019: Production Prototype and FAA Conversations

In 2019, Joby Aviation developed a production prototype of its eVTOL aircraft, was in active conversations with the FAA about certifying the aircraft, and announced a partnership with Uber's Elevate division.

January 15, 2020: Series C Funding and Manufacturing Partnership

On January 15, 2020, Joby Aviation announced a Series C round of funding, totaling $590 million, led by Toyota Motor Corporation and a manufacturing partnership with Toyota.

January 2020: Funding Round and Production Vehicle Reveal

In January 2020, Joby Aviation announced a $590 million funding round led by Toyota Motor Corporation and revealed its production vehicle. Also in January 2020, JoeBen Bevirt was a keynote speaker at the Vertical Flight Society meeting.

January 2020: Plans to Manufacture Aircraft in Marina, California

In January 2020, Joby Aviation announced plans to manufacture its aircraft in Marina, California, including an initial 55,000 square foot production facility followed by a 500,000 square foot factory.

October 2020: SPAC Incorporated in Cayman Islands

In October 2020, the special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC) was incorporated in the Cayman Islands.

December 2020: Acquisition of Uber Elevate

In December 2020, Joby Aviation acquired Elevate, Uber's air taxi division, and received a $75 million investment from Uber.

January 2021: Exploring Special-Purpose Acquisition Company

In January 2021, it was reported that Joby Aviation was exploring a special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC) to become a public company.

February 2021: Partnership with Garmin and FAA Certification Basis

In February 2021, Joby Aviation announced a partnership with Garmin to provide flight deck equipment and that it had obtained a 'G-1' certification basis for its aircraft with the FAA.

February 2021: Business Combination Agreement with Reinvent Technology Partners

In February 2021, Joby Aviation entered into a business combination agreement with Reinvent Technology Partners, a SPAC funded by Reid Hoffman and Mark Pincus.

June 2021: Approval for Production Facility in Marina

In June 2021, the City of Marina and the FAA approved Joby Aviation's plan for a production facility.

August 2021: Flight Achievements and Public Listing

In August 2021, Joby Aviation announced a 155-mile flight on a single charge in 77 minutes, comparative noise tests, and its application for air Part 135 and Part 23 carrier certifications. On August 11, 2021, the company went public using a special-purpose acquisition company.

January 2022: Fastest eVTOL Flight

In January 2022, Joby Aviation registered what it claimed was the fastest eVTOL flight to date, traveling at a true airspeed of 205 mph (330 km/h).

February 16, 2022: Prototype Crash During Test Flight

On February 16, 2022, a remotely piloted prototype of Joby Aviation crashed during a test flight in rural California, sustaining substantial damage. The NTSB determined the crash was caused by an in-flight component failure.

April 2022: Acquisition of H2Fly

In April 2022, Joby Aviation acquired hydrogen-aviation pioneer H2Fly, a spinoff of the DLR Institute of Engineering Thermodynamics of the German Aerospace Center.

May 2022: Part 135 Air Service Certification

In May 2022, Joby Aviation received Part 135 air service certification from the FAA, and is operating a fleet of Cirrus SR22s while seeking certification for its eVTOL aircraft.

October 2022: Investment from Delta Air Lines

In October 2022, Delta Air Lines announced a $60 million investment in Joby Aviation to offer “home-to-airport” flights, starting from New York City and Los Angeles.

June 28, 2023: First Production Aircraft Rollout and FAA Approval

On June 28, 2023, Joby Aviation rolled out the first production version of its aircraft and announced FAA approval to flight test that version, causing a significant increase in its stock price. The U.S. Air Force is expected to receive early production units in 2024 as part of a $131 million contract.

September 2023: First eVTOL Air Taxi Delivery

In September 2023, Joby Aviation delivered its first eVTOL air taxi to Edwards Air Force Base in California.

November 12, 2023: First eVTOL Flight in New York City

On November 12, 2023, Joby Aviation flew its aircraft in New York City, marking the first eVTOL flight in the city and the first time Joby Aviation has flown in an urban setting. A demonstration flight was performed at the Downtown Manhattan Heliport as part of an announcement by the city of its intention to electrify the facility.

June 2024: Acquisition of Xwing's Autonomy Division

Joby Aviation acquired the autonomy division of Xwing in June 2024.

June 24, 2024: Record Non-Stop Hydrogen-Electric Flight

On June 24, 2024, Joby Aviation's S4 eVTOL demonstrator, converted to hydrogen-electric power, completed a record 523-mile non-stop flight (later 561), more than triple the range of the battery powered version. The flight used the H2Fly-developed ‘H2F-175’ hydrogen fuel cell system to power the six electric rotors and emitted only water vapor.

Dec 2024: First flight in Korea’s K-UAM Grand Challenge

In December 2024, Joby became the first company to fly in Korea’s K-UAM Grand Challenge.

2024: Delivery of Early Production Units to US Air Force

In 2024, Joby Aviation is scheduled to deliver early production units of its eVTOL aircraft to the U.S. Air Force as part of a $131 million contract. This would be the first ever eVTOL to be delivered to a paying customer.