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Toyota to invest $500 million in electric air taxi business Joby Air travel

Toyota Motor said Wednesday it will invest another $500 million in Joby Air travel to support accreditation and industrial production of Joby's. electric air taxi.

The Japanese car manufacturer's brand-new financing is on top of $394. million in previous financial investments it made in Joby and is part of a. strategic alliance on commercial manufacturing. The financial investment. will remain in the form of money for common stock, with the first. tranche set to close later in 2024 and the 2nd next year.

Electric vertical departure and landing aircraft (eVTOL) have. been touted as the future of city air movement, though they. face difficulties to win over regulators.

Joby stated it continues to make progress towards. commercialization and certification and recently broke ground on. a broadened center in California.

We share Joby's view that sustainable flight will be. main to easing today's persistent movement challenges,. said Toyota Motor North America CEO Ted Ogawa.

Toyota is currently Joby's biggest external investor, said. Joby CEO JoeBen Bevirt in an interview. This will further. cement their amazing partnership with Joby, he stated. Both. business are extremely dedicated to shaping this next generation of. transport as we move to the air for our everyday. transportation requirements.

Toyota engineers are working side-by-side with the Joby group. in California and last year the two companies signed a long-term. arrangement for Toyota to provide crucial powertrain and other. parts for Joby airplane.

Car manufacturers have taken interest in the sector.

Chrysler-parent Stellantis stated in July it would. invest an additional $55 million in Archer Aviation. after making prior investment and equity purchases.

Airline companies are looking at establishing transport services using. battery-powered airplane that can take off and land vertically. to ferry tourists to airports or on brief trips in between cities,. enabling them to beat traffic.

In 2022, Delta Air Lines stated it was investing $60. million in Joby for a 2% equity stake, in a partnership that. aims to initially use guests air taxi transport to and. from airports in New york city and Los Angeles. At the time, the objective. was to launch service in 2024. Bevirt told Reuters Tuesday the. business is absolutely targeting the next few years for. release.

(source: Reuters)