Joby Aviation, Inc. has finalized a definitive multi-year agreement with Virgin Atlantic to launch electric air taxi services in the UK. The partnership establishes Virgin Atlantic as Joby's exclusive airline partner for air taxi services in the UK, building on Joby's existing exclusivity arrangement with Delta Air Lines, which holds a 49 percent stake in Virgin Atlantic. This collaboration aims to provide faster, more convenient travel across the UK by integrating Joby's services into Virgin Atlantic's booking channels.

Virgin Atlantic will integrate Joby's air taxi service into its website and mobile app, allowing travelers to book seamless air taxi connections alongside long-haul flights. Joby plans to launch service at Virgin Atlantic's hubs in London and Manchester, with Manchester anchoring connections across the North of England. Virgin Atlantic will support the rollout through its customer base and airport relationships, while Joby retains sole responsibility for aircraft operations, route management, and securing UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) regulatory approvals.

The agreement formalizes a partnership announced in 2025 into a binding commercial framework. It leverages the shared transatlantic network of Delta and Virgin Atlantic, complementing Joby's multi-city partnership with Delta established in 2022 for community-to-airport transportation in the US and UK. Virgin Atlantic CEO Corneel Koster stated the agreement marks an exciting next chapter in the partnership and a significant step towards bringing electric air taxi services to the UK. Joby CEO JoeBen Bevirt highlighted the potential for significant opportunities as the company expands into major UK cities.

Planned UK Routes and Specifications

Joby's aircraft utilizes six tilting propellers for vertical take-off and landing, producing a fraction of the noise of helicopters. The company has completed thousands of test flights, including point-to-point demonstrations between JFK Airport and Manhattan. Certification is progressing under the Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement between the FAA and UK CAA, following Joby's 2022 validation application.

Joby Aviation, Inc. and Toyota Motor Corporation have formed a joint venture to manufacture Joby’s S4 Series electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The new entity, Joby Toyota Aero Manufacturing Preparation Company (JTAMPC), was incorporated on June 29, 2026, to establish a dedicated manufacturing base leveraging Toyota's production expertise and Joby's aircraft technology. This alliance builds upon a multi-year collaboration and follows Toyota’s $500 million investment in Joby in late 2024 to fund aircraft certification and early-stage production.

Toyota acquired a 51% ownership interest in JTAMPC by purchasing 1,020,000 shares for $1.02 million. Joby acquired a 49% interest by purchasing 980,000 shares for $980,000. These initial capital contributions establish the ownership structure and provide foundational funding for the joint venture's operations. The venture aims to build commercial production capability, improve manufacturing productivity, and support Joby’s production expansion as it works toward aircraft certification.

JTAMPC will be governed by a board of five directors, with three designated by Toyota and two by Joby, subject to ownership thresholds. Significant corporate actions, such as amending the business plan, approving operating budgets, or issuing new equity, require prior approval from both parties. Specific actions, including incurring indebtedness and declaring dividends, require Toyota's approval.

The agreement mandates that Joby and Toyota negotiate an exclusive manufacturing supply agreement and related intellectual property arrangements before the first funding milestone is achieved. Under these proposed agreements, Joby will grant JTAMPC exclusive rights to manufacture the S4 Series and license related intellectual property on a royalty-free basis. Toyota will grant JTAMPC a royalty-free license for jointly developed manufacturing intellectual property and a royalty-bearing license for certain Toyota background manufacturing intellectual property.

Prior to achieving the first funding milestone, the parties intend to amend and restate the stockholders agreement to address funding contributions, consent rights, transfer restrictions, and exit rights. Stockholders are obligated to make mandatory capital contributions upon the achievement of specified funding milestones. The board will determine when a milestone is reached and issue notices specifying the aggregate amounts to be contributed. If the parties cannot agree on the terms of the future agreements, the stockholders agreement may be terminated by either party. The deal may also require Hart-Scott-Rodino and CFIUS filings.