Joby aims to double US output as air-taxi push gains momentum

Joby Aviation said on Wednesday it would double its U.S. manufacturing capacity, as the electric aircraft maker looks to cash in on demand for air-taxis.

Regulators and industry players have been accelerating efforts to bring electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft into mainstream transportation to reduce urban congestion.

Joby aims to boost its production capacity from two to four aircraft per month in 2027 and will hire more employees to support round-the-clock manufacturing operations at its site in California.

"We're confident now is the right time to invest in the equipment, facilities and people required to accelerate production," Joby CEO JoeBen Bevirt said.

Joby had announced in August it would acquire helicopter ride-share company Blade Air Mobility's passenger business for up to $125 million, to help speed up the deployment of electric air taxis for commercial passenger services.

In May, Toyota Motor Corp had invested $250 million in Joby to help scale its production.