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TheTechno Optimist.

Joby S4Joby Aviation—Joby S4Joby Aviation—Joby S4Joby Aviation—

Joby Aviation

S4 air taxi, Dubai launch, Blade

USpublicest. 2009jobyaviation.com (opens jobyaviation.com)Checked 25 Sep

The brief

Analyst view
  • In the final stage of FAA safety approval in 2026; FAA-counted test flights are next.
  • Building a Dubai network with an exclusive six-year deal and a landing pad at Dubai airport.
  • Toyota is its largest outside investor and helps build it; Joby bought Blade's passenger business in 2025.

Technical approach

As reported
Tilt-prop

Six propellers that tilt

All six propellers point up to lift off, then tilt forward so the wing carries the plane. No dead weight, but the tilting must be perfect.

Safety by numbers

Many motors and batteries

Each propeller has its own motor, with backups, and there are several separate battery packs, so losing any one is survivable.

Acoustics

Low tip speed

Big, slow-turning blades keep noise low; Joby reports about 45 dBA flying over at 500 m, close to normal city noise.

Vertical integration

Build and operate

Joby makes its own motors, batteries and software, and plans to run the service via its app and Uber instead of just selling aircraft.

Programs

Joby Aviation, one program

Updated 5 Aug 2026
Joby S4An electric air taxi for a pilot and four passengers, flying up to about 200 mph on trips of a few dozen miles. Six tilting propellers, four battery packs.PilotNextFAA pilots begin official test flights · 2026Updated 5 Aug 2026View program →
Research · Proto · Pilot · Deploy · Scaling

Research & demos

2 items

Open technical problems

Open · Active · Partial
  • Batteries limit rangeActive research

    Take-off and landing need lots of power; today's batteries limit range and wear out faster under that load, which drives cost.

  • Certifying a new categoryPartially solved

    The FAA needs new ways to check every part, from software to stopping a battery fire, because this kind of aircraft is new.

  • Landing pads and chargersOpen

    Each city needs powerful chargers, flight routes and landing pads before service can grow.

Upcoming catalysts

Company-wide
  • 2027Planned expansion of Joby air-taxi service to Ras Al Khaimah, UAEJoby S4by ~15 mo

Peers

Air taxis · 4

Company & funding

2 rounds · as reported
Raised
$1.1Bdisclosed private rounds
Last round
Strategic (Toyota)Oct 2024
HQ
US
Founded
2009
DateRoundAmountPost-moneyLead
Oct 2024Strategic (Toyota)$500M—Toyota
Jan 2020Series C$590M—Toyota

Partners & customers

1 investor · 3 partners · 1 customer

People

Key people
Primer