Photo: Toyota Motor Corporation
Toyota Motor Corporation and Joby Aviation recently convened at Toyota’s Higashi-Fuji Technical Center in Shizuoka, Japan, to demonstrate their commitment to advancing air mobility. Present at the event were executives from both firms, including Toyota Group Chairman Akio Toyoda and Joby’s CEO and founder, JoeBen Bevirt. The gathering featured Joby’s electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, marking a significant milestone in their ongoing collaboration.
Toyota’s historical interest in air mobility stretches back nearly a century. In 1925, Sakichi Toyoda, the founder of the Toyota Group, offered a prize for a storage battery capable of powering an aeroplane across the Pacific Ocean. This commitment to air mobility continued through generations. Toyota’s founder, Kiichiro Toyoda, pursued the development of aircraft components and prototypes, while Dr. Shoichiro Toyoda later collaborated on an electronically controlled aero piston engine at Higashi-Fuji, solidifying Toyota’s interest in air transport technology. Now, Toyota views battery power as a viable solution for eVTOL aircraft.
This collaboration aligns with Toyota’s shift towards becoming a mobility company, expanding partnerships to explore new modes of transport. JoeBen Bevirt of Joby Aviation spoke of his vision for air travel that reduces environmental impact and eases daily commuting: “We look forward to a world where our environmental footprint is smaller, a world where we’re able to spend more time with the people and places that matter most to us, without having to worry about traffic jams.”
The partnership, which began seven years ago, combines Joby’s vision for air mobility with Toyota’s expertise in production and technology development. This teamwork recently led to Joby’s first demonstration of its air taxi in Japan.
“This is a moment we have been looking forward to for a long time and marks a significant milestone on our journey towards making clean air travel an everyday reality,” Bevirt said. “We share Toyota’s vision for the future of air travel and are honoured to have had the opportunity to present a glimpse of that future through our exhibition flight in Japan.”
Hiroki Nakajima, Toyota’s executive vice president, also highlighted the potential impact of air mobility. “Air mobility has the potential to change our sense of distance and time and open a future with the new option of air mobility that will further enrich the lives of many people,” he said, noting Toyota’s commitment to continue its collaboration with Joby.
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