Joby Aviation, in a move that screams “the future is now, and it’s surprisingly quiet,” successfully completed the first-ever public flight demonstration of an eVTOL aircraft at a World Expo. Teaming up with ANA Holdings, Japan’s largest airline, Joby’s all-electric air taxi performed multiple flights at the Expo 2025 in Osaka, showcasing its vertical takeoff, whisper-quiet wingborne flight, and pinpoint vertical landings for all to see. The flights are a crucial step in gaining public acceptance and providing valuable data to the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) as the company marches toward its planned 2026 service launch.
But don’t mistake this for a simple tech demo. Joby isn’t just building a “flying car”; it’s meticulously assembling a vertically integrated transportation service. The company’s strategy involves not only designing and manufacturing the aircraft but also operating the entire network. This is underscored by its savvy acquisition of helicopter taxi operator Blade, instantly buying a decade of operational know-how and existing infrastructure. Add to that a deep partnership with manufacturing giant Toyota, which is lending its legendary production expertise and supplying key components, and you have a plan that looks unnervingly plausible. The entire operation is designed around a core principle: being quiet enough to not annoy an entire city into banning them, a key differentiator from their noisy helicopter predecessors.
Why is this important?
The race to launch an air taxi service is littered with ambitious prototypes and broken promises. Joby’s methodical approach, however, sets it apart. Instead of just focusing on the aircraft, the company is tackling the far more boring—and far more critical—hurdles of manufacturing, logistics, and regulation. By partnering with industrial powerhouses like Toyota, acquiring existing operators like Blade, and working directly with regulatory bodies like NASA on validating its low-noise claims, Joby is building a business, not just a vehicle. With commercial operations slated to begin in Dubai and the U.S. by 2026, Joby is positioning itself to be less of a sci-fi dream and more of the actual, awkwardly silent future of urban transit.
