Over the weekend, Joby Aviation, the maker of an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi designed for a pilot and up to four passengers, flew its flagship model outside the United States to the first time at Toyota’s Shizuoka facilities. The exhibition follows that of Toyota recent liquidity injection of $500 million to help Joby develop, certify and manufacture its air taxi, which takes off vertically like a helicopter but uses fixed wings for cruising.

Joby’s aircraft has a top speed of 200 mph (174 knots) and an expected range of around 100 sm (87 nm). It is designed for operations in congested urban environments such as New York, where the company last year achieved the city’s first eVTOL flights from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport (KJRB).

The company plans to launch in the United States as early as next year in partnership with Delta Air Lines, which will open its hubs at Joby to operate home-to-airport air taxi routes. It also has a integration with Uber, allowing passengers to book flights through the Uber app and vice versa.

Joby has not yet announced plans to operate in Japan: Saturday’s exhibition flight was intended to demonstrate the air taxi’s silent operation. According to the company assessmentit generates just over 45 dBA while cruising at about 1,600 feet, which is equivalent to the volume of rustling leaves or office conversation.

Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota, Ted Ogawa, CEO of Toyota North America, as well as representatives from the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) were in attendance.

“Air mobility has the potential to change our “perception of distance and time” and open up a future with the new option of air mobility that will further enrich the lives of many people. » said Hiroki Nakajima, executive vice president and chief technology officer of Toyota. “Toyota is committed to deepening our collaboration with Joby and we will continue to work together to realize our shared dreams.”

Since partnering with Joby seven years ago, Toyota has become the company’s largest external investor, investing more than $900 million in its technology.

The automaker will be the company’s primary manufacturing partner and works alongside Joby personnel at its manufacturing and flight test center at Marina Municipal Airport (KOAR) in California. Businesses last year agreed for Toyota to supply powertrains and actuators for Joby’s flagship model.