Joby Aviation, Santa Cruz, California, and Uber revealed their partnership to launch air taxi services by 2023. No indication was given as to where these services will be introduced nor specific information on the seating capacity of the proposed eVTOL aircraft.
JoeBen Bevirt, Joby Aviation CEO said, “We’re excited to partner with Uber. By bringing our next-generation aircraft and urban flight operations to Uber’s on-demand ground mobility network, we aim to get people to their destinations five-times faster than driving, reduce urban congestion and accelerate the shift to sustainable modes of transit.”
Joby has maintained a relatively low profile prior to this announcement. Their first model eVTOL aircraft, the S4 is a four-seat craft, and there are indications they are also building a larger S5. No details were available on that aircraft. The S4 is expected to have a range of 150 miles with an operating speed of 140 mph.
Joby is the first of seven Uber partner companies to offer a scheduled launch date for a certified eVTOL aircraft.