Joby Aviation Has a Bold Plan to Make Flying Cars Real—Fast

Airlines were supposed to be imagination. Puncline. Caricature promised from the past to the era of Gitson. But Judy Air is no longer anything. It is a building for them.

The California -based Santa Cruz company revealed the expansion of its manufacturing facility in Marina, California, as it now has the ability to build up to 24 electric taxis per year. These two cars are flying a month. As the capacity is increased in Dayton, Ohio, and the testing of trips already in Dubai, the future of the transportation of urban air is no longer stuck in the concept stage.

The production teacher comes at a time when Gueli has completed experimental test flights in Dubai, which represents the beginning of the program of preparation in the commercial market in the United Arab Emirates. In partnership with Dubai transportation roads and power, the company is preparing for passengers early in 2026, a timeline that seems more realistic than it was 12 months ago.

Eric Alison, chief product employee at Jobi, said: “Reinstalling urban movement takes speed, size and careful manufacturing,” said Eric Alison, Senior Product employee in Jobi. “Our expanded supporters, in both California and Ouhyu, are preparing for us to do so.”

But while the plane rolled from the line and goes to the sky, a more difficult question waves on the horizon: Is the world actually ready for flights on a large scale?

From planned to the assembly line

Unlike many of its competitors in Evtol, they still scream from consumed and steam models, Joby builds real and aircraft FAA aircraft with vertical takeoff possibilities, 200 MPH maximum speeds, and a process close to the designer. Each plane can carry a pilot and four passengers, and it is intended for short -value roads, such as from Dubai International Airport to Palm Jumeraah in 12 minutes (a 45 -minute car flight).

At the Marina facility, which now extends over 435,000 square feet, Joby produces aircraft ingredients using 3D printing and quality -based quality monitoring and a team partially trained by Toyota engineers, thanks to a deep partnership between the two companies. The factory will also customize simulation devices for experimental training, ground test areas, and FAA classification laboratories.

In Dayton, Ohio, Airback birthplace and now the home line of the next generation of Jobi, the company is preparing to build 500 aircraft in the year. It is one of the most ambitious efforts of manufacturing by an emerging company in the Silicon Valley in modern memory, with the support of government grants and workforce in the field of advanced manufacturing in the Middle West.

Dubai gets the first trip

Although manufacturing may be American, the first passengers will not be. Joby’s launch customer is Dubai, who gave the company exclusive taxi rights for six years. On the other hand, Joby is working with local aviation authorities to stand on a full commercial taxi network, starting from the roundabout under construction at Dubai International Airport.

Dubai purchase is the key. The city has invested extensively in smart mobility, from driver without a driver to robotakis, and now hopes to integrate the Evtol plane into a broader transport network. According to Dubai officials, air taxis will be a distinct service, targeting those who want the rapid and smooth movement between the main parts of the city.

“The air taxi will provide a new service for the residents and visitors who are looking for smooth, fast and safe travel to major destinations throughout the city,” said Mattar Al -Tayer, Director General of the Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai. “The service will also enhance integration with public transportation systems and individual transportation options.”

Who gets flying?

Premium word does a lot of work here. Although the Joby plane may be clean, calm and fast, it is not cheap. At least not yet. With the limited seats, generational trips, and large regulatory costs, the first contestants of executives, tourists, wealthy passengers, not your average.

This raises questions about access, fairness and infrastructure. Will airlines become another luxurious product for elites, while cities continue to neglect the land transport for all? Or can the mature Evtol market already reduce urban congestion and create new forms that can be developed from public transport?

To date, the answers are not clear. A real air plane. Tables have aggressive. But adoption depends on everything from pricing models and safety standards to general perception and tolerance with noise.

The bottom line

With the presence of the ongoing tannas and flight factories, Joby Aviation may be the first company to manufacture a flight car, not like a dream of scientific fantasy, but as an encouraging product. Two planes per month. Six this year. Hundreds soon.

It is a type of teacher that usually represents the beginning of something. But like any sabotage technique, what happens after that depends on more than just engineering.

We have discovered how to build airlines. Now we have to decide the type of the world in which we want to run.