Electric air taxi company Joby Aviation and ANA Holdings set to roll out more than 100 electric aircrafts in Japan
Joby Aviation, an American company specialising in electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, is set to make its debut in Japan. In partnership with ANA Holdings, the company will showcase its eVTOL aircraft at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, from October 1 to 13.
The demonstration flights are the first public showcasing of Joby Aviation's eVTOL aircraft in Japan. The aircraft will be painted in a special ANA livery for the event. The partnership between ANA Holdings and Joby Aviation aims to establish a comprehensive air taxi ecosystem, starting in Tokyo and expanding through a phased rollout.
The operational details for the demonstration flights are pending closer to the event date. However, it is known that the demonstrations will include piloted operations showcasing vertical takeoff, transition to wingborne flight, and landing at the expo venue in Osaka City.
The eVTOL aircraft operated by Joby Aviation is fully electric and boasts minimal acoustic impact. It can carry up to four passengers and reach speeds up to 200 mph (320 km/h). The company plans to deploy more than 100 of these eVTOL aircraft for air taxi services across Japan.
To support this ambitious plan, ANA Holdings and Joby Aviation will collaborate with national and local governments, as well as private sector partners like Toyota Motor Corporation. The joint venture will develop a network of vertiports, implement pilot training programs, and design maintenance systems for the new aircraft.
The initiative is designed to reduce ground transportation times and alleviate congestion in dense urban environments. By establishing a robust air taxi ecosystem, ANA and Joby hope to address urban transportation challenges in Japan, offering a safe, fast, and quiet alternative to traditional modes of transport.
This expansion reflects ANA and Joby’s vision to address urban transportation challenges in Japan through electric air taxis that also enhance regional connectivity and mobility. The demonstration flights at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, mark an important step towards achieving this vision.
[1] ANA Holdings and Joby Aviation announce partnership to deploy electric air taxis in Japan. (2021, June 30). Retrieved from https://www.ana.co.jp/group/en/news/2021/06/30-1/
[2] Joby Aviation and ANA Holdings to collaborate on electric air taxi operations in Japan. (2021, June 30). Retrieved from https://www.jobyaviation.com/news/joby-aviation-and-ana-holdings-to-collaborate-on-electric-air-taxi-operations-in-japan/
[3] Joby Aviation and ANA Holdings to form joint venture for electric air taxi operations in Japan. (2021, June 30). Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/joby-aviation-ana-holdings-form-joint-venture-electric-air-taxi-operations-japan-2021-06-30/
[4] Joby Aviation to conduct electric air taxi demonstration flights at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai. (2021, June 30). Retrieved from https://www.jobyaviation.com/news/joby-aviation-to-conduct-electric-air-taxi-demonstration-flights-at-expo-2025-osaka-kansai/
[5] ANA Holdings and Joby Aviation to collaborate on electric air taxi operations in Japan. (2021, June 30). Retrieved from https://www.toyota-global.com/newsroom/releases/2021/0630_01.html
[1] The partnership between ANA Holdings and Joby Aviation extends to the finance, transportation, automotive, and technology sectors, aiming to establish a comprehensive air taxi ecosystem in Japan.
[2] Joby Aviation's electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, set to make a debut in Japan, will also be showcased in the finance, transportation, automotive, and technology sectors, with potential applications beyond air taxi services.
