Joby Aviation to double eVTOL production across two states, leveraging Toyota’s expertise
Joby Aviation is gearing up (literally) eVTOL production in the US as it prepares for scaled commercial operations. The company is ramping up capabilities and its two current facilities in two states, leveraging the insight from its long-term investor, Toyota.
If you have any interest in the blossoming eVTOL and air taxi industry, Joby Aviation ($JOBY) is a name you’re going to want to take note of as it continues to advance as one of the leaders in the space. The California-based aviation specialist continues publicly showcasing that it has the tech and financial backing to reach scaled eVTOL production en route to commercialization and paid air taxi flights in the US and beyond.
We’ve already seen Joby complete demonstration flights in New York City, teasing a future of full-fledged eVTOL air taxi operations initially planned for sometime in 2025. In 2024, Joby announced a definitive agreement with the government of Dubai to begin air taxi operations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), including exclusive rights to aerial operations in the country’s capital for six years.
As of June, Joby had begun piloted flights in the region as it continued to bolster eVTOL production in the US. In the fall of 2024, Joby took an experimental eVTOL air taxi to Japan for its first international demonstration flight above Shizuoka with a beautiful view of Mt. Fuji as its backdrop, through a long-standing partnership with Toyota.
As a partner and massive investor in Joby Aviation, Toyota and its team of engineers have recently helped counsel the design and workflow of the former’s recently expanded production facilities.
Joby expands eVTOL production in California and Ohio
Per an update from Joby Aviation this morning, it has expanded its Marina, California, production facility (pictured above) to approximately 435,000 square feet, enabling it to double its annual aircraft output.
Once fully operational, Joby’s California facility is expected to produce up to 24 eVTOL aircraft annually. It will also host the company’s initial FAA production certification, ground and flight testing components, pilot training simulators, and aircraft maintenance.
Joby’s other footprints include its headquarters in Santa Cruz, California, a powertrain and electronics facility in San Carlos, California, and a newly renovated facility in Dayton, Ohio, where Joby plans to manufacture and test the components for its pilot production line.
Joby stated that the Ohio facility will be crucial in production certification and its targets for scaled eVTOL operations. Joby’s chief product officer, Eric Allison, elaborated:
Reimagining urban mobility takes speed, scale, and precision manufacturing. Our expanded manufacturing footprint in both California and Ohio is preparing us to do just that. We celebrated the opening of the new facility with the flight of our sixth aircraft, which earned airworthiness certification within a week of completion.
To achieve certified production and scaled commercial operations more quickly, Joby enlisted the help of Toyota’s engineers to assist in the expansions of its production facilities. Per the release:
Toyota engineers are deeply integrated with the Joby team, providing counsel to support Joby’s work across design, manufacturing, and quality. Toyota also helps the Joby team optimize processes, streamline assembly, and offer advice related to the development of custom tooling to accelerate production.
While the Marina facility is crucial to Joby’s immediate growth, Dayton will eventually become home to most of Joby’s eVTOL manufacturing, as the site could eventually build as many as 500 aircraft per year.
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Tesla’s retro-futuristic diner with Superchargers and giant movie screens is ready to open, and I have to admit, it looks pretty sick.
This project has been in the works for a long time.
In 2018, Elon Musk said that Tesla planned to open an “old school drive-in, roller skates & rock restaurant at one of the new Tesla Supercharger locations in Los Angeles.” It was yet another “Is he joking?” kind of Elon Musk idea, but he wasn’t kidding.
A few months later, Tesla applied for building permits for “a restaurant and Supercharger station” at a location in Santa Monica. However, the project stalled for a long time, apparently due to local regulations.
Nevertheless, Tesla still moved forward with a Supercharger at the location, but it had to move the diner project to Hollywood. In 2022, Tesla filed the construction plans with the city, giving us the first look at what the automaker intends to build.
In 2023, the automaker broke ground on the site of the diner.
7 years after being originally announced, the project appears now ready to open:
Musk said that he ate at the diner last night and claimed that it is “one of the coolest spots in LA.” He didn’t say when it will open, but Tesla vehicles have been spotted at Supercharger and people appear to be testing the dinning experience inside.
A Tesla Optimus Robot can be seen inside the diner on a test rack. It looks like Tesla might use one for some tasks inside the diner.
Earlier this year, Tesla integrated the diner into its mobile app – hinting at some interaction through the app – possibly ordering from it.
Electrek’s Take
I think it looks pretty cool. I am a fan of the design and concept.
However, considering the state of the Tesla community, I don’t think I’d like the vibes. That said, it looks like Tesla isn’t prominently pushing its branding on the diner.
You can come and charge there, but it looks like Tesla is also aiming to get a wider clientele just for dining.
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Hyundai’s electric minivan is finally out in the open. The Staria EV was caught without camo near Hyundai’s R&D center in Korea, giving us a closer look at the electric minivan undisguised.
Hyundai’s electric minivan drops camo ahead of debut
The Staria arrived in 2021 as the successor to the Starex, Hyundai’s multi-purpose vehicle (MPV). Although the Staria has received several updates throughout the years, 2026 will be its biggest by far.
Hyundai will launch the Staria EV, its first electric minivan. Like the current model, the 2026 Staria will be available in several different configurations, including cargo, passenger, and even a camper version.
We’ve seen the Staria EV out in public a few times already. Last month, we got a glimpse of it while driving on public roads in Korea.
Despite the camouflage, new EV-like design elements were visible, including updated LED headlights and a full-length light bar. Although it’s still unclear, the electric version appears to be roughly the same size as the current Staria from the side, but slightly wider from the front.
New images posted on the South Korean forum Clien reveal a test car, expected to be Hyundai’s Staria electric minivan, without camo.
Like most Hyundai test cars, the prototype has a black front and a grey body. It still features a similar look to other prototypes we’ve seen, but you can clearly see the new facelift.
Earlier this year, a Staria EV was spotted in a parking lot in Korea, featuring a similar look. The electric version is nearly identical to the Staria Lounge, but with an added charge port and closed-off grille.
The Hyundai Staria EV is expected to make its global debut later this year. Technical details have yet to be revealed, but it’s expected to feature either a 76 kWh or 84 kWh battery, providing a range of around 350 km (217 miles) to 400 km (249 miles).
Hyundai’s electric SUV arrives after Kia introduced its first electric van, the PV5, which launched in Europe and Korea earlier this year.
In Europe, the Kia Passenger PV5 model is available with two battery pack options: 51.5 kWh and 71.2 kWh, providing WLTP ranges of 179 miles and 249 miles, respectively. The Cargo version has a WLTP range of 181 miles or 247 miles.
Source: TheKoreanCarBlog, Clien
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