On November 1, the eVTOL, or flying car, developed by Toyota’s partner, American company Joby Aviation, completed its first test flight over Japan.
The partnership between Joby CEO JoeBen Bevirt and Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda began in 2019, fueled by their shared vision of improving the world through air mobility. Their collaboration has only grown stronger over time.
This flight marked the first test outside of the United States. At the press conference the following day, both leaders expressed their commitment, declaring, “Today is the real start,” and vowed to further strengthen their partnership.
Toyota’s skyward ambitions date back nearly 100 years. In the early 20th century, Toyota Group founder Sakichi Toyoda offered a prize worth over 10 billion yen today to encourage the development of a storage battery capable of powering a flight across the Pacific Ocean. Toyota’s founder, Kiichiro Toyoda, also supported aircraft research alongside the mass production of automobiles. Honorary Chairman Shoichiro Toyoda furthered the dream by collaborating with an American company to create the world’s first electronically controlled aero piston engine.
These visions of air mobility have been passed down through Toyota’s history, continually shaping the company’s future.
The goal is not just to achieve a world first in flight, but to create a future where this technology is accessible to everyday people, delivering Mobility for All. Chairman Toyoda, as the current custodian of a dream that spans four generations, reaffirmed his commitment to shaping the future alongside CEO Bevirt, who shares his vision.
The Joby eVTOL is making significant strides toward commercialization and is set to begin flying as a taxi in Dubai by 2026. Watch this week’s video to see the latest developments.
At the end of the video, Chairman Toyoda takes JoeBen for a celebratory spin, even performing some donuts to mark the success of the first flight! Don’t miss it!
