Joby Aviation Inc. announced Sept. 18 it plans to locate its first scaled aircraft production facility in Dayton, Ohio, the birthplace of aviation.
(Joby Aviation photo)
Joby Aviation Inc., a company developing electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for commercial passenger service, announced Sept. 18 it plans to locate its first scaled aircraft production facility in Dayton, Ohio, the birthplace of aviation.
The Wright Brothers, who invented and flew the first powered aircraft, lived and worked in Dayton and opened the first airplane factory in the United States there in 1910. The city also is home to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, and the headquarters of the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratories, which has played a key role in supporting Joby's development.
Joby plans to build a facility capable of delivering up to 500 aircraft per year at the Dayton International Airport, supporting up to 2,000 jobs. The 140-acre site it has selected has the potential to support significant further growth over time, providing enough land to build up to 2 million sq. ft. of manufacturing space. Construction of the scaled Ohio facility is expected to start in 2024 and it is expected to come online in 2025. Joby plans to use existing nearby buildings to begin near-term operations.
The state of Ohio, JobsOhio and local political subdivisions have offered incentives and benefits of up to $325 million to support the development of the facility, while Joby plans to invest up to $500 million as it scales operations at the site. Joby also announced that it has been invited by the U.S. Department of Energy to submit a Part II Application for financing under the Title XVII Loan Guarantee Program, which provides access to low-interest loans for clean energy projects and would support the scaling of the facility.
Joby's long-term investor, Toyota, who worked with Joby on the design and successful launch of the company's Pilot Production Line in Marina, Calif., plans to continue to advise Joby as it prepares for scaled production of its commercial passenger air taxi in Ohio.
"We're building the future of aviation right where it all started, in Dayton, Ohio," said JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby. "The Wright Brothers harnessed revolutionary technology of their time to open the skies, and we intend to do the same — this time, bringing quiet and emissions-free flight that we hope will have an equally profound impact on our world."
Joby plans to start hiring in the coming months, with early roles expected to focus on the build out of the scaled facility and the machining of parts that will initially be incorporated into Joby's California low-volume production line.
Joby's production aircraft is designed to transport a pilot and four passengers at speeds of up to 200 mph, with a maximum range of 100 mi. and a revolutionary quiet noise profile that is barely audible against the backdrop of cities. The company plans to operate these aircraft as part of aerial ridesharing networks in cities and communities around the world, starting in 2025, building on partnerships it has developed with Delta and Uber.
Joby's selection of Ohio as the site for its first scaled aircraft production facility followed an extensive competitive site selection process and is contingent upon standard due diligence, state and local approvals of incentives, permitting and other legal and regulatory matters as customarily accompany such investment projects.
Joby's headquarters, research and development and pilot production facility will remain in California. With approximately 150 open positions across the company's three northern California sites, Joby continues to grow its presence in the state.
"Ohio's legacy in aviation begins with the Wright Brothers and continues with Joby Aviation as they launch a new era in aviation manufacturing and aerial mobility in Dayton," said Gov. Mike DeWine. "The aircraft that will roll off Joby Ohio's production lines will redefine urban transportation and contribute to a fundamental change in the way people and goods travel. We welcome Joby and celebrate the new chapter of air mobility history that will be made in Ohio, the Heart of Aviation."
For more information, visit jobyaviation.com.
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