Joby Aviation has taken a significant step towards the future of urban air travel by expanding its partnership with Uber Technologies. This collaboration follows Joby’s recent acquisition of Blade, an aerial mobility company, and aims to integrate air taxi services into the popular Uber app as early as next year. This move positions Joby to enhance its commercial operations in electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
The announcement comes after Joby Aviation successfully completed test flights in various locations, including New York City, where on November 12, 2023, Joby’s custom eVTOL aircraft conducted an exhibition flight from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport. This showcased the potential for air taxi services ahead of full commercial operations slated for 2025. Joby’s strategy focuses on leveraging existing infrastructure and customer bases from Blade to expedite the rollout of its services in key markets, including Dubai, New York, and Los Angeles.
Since initiating its partnership with Uber in 2019, Joby has steadily built on its relationship with the rideshare giant. In 2021, Joby acquired Uber’s Elevate division, which was dedicated to advancing urban air mobility. This latest collaboration is expected to integrate Blade’s passenger services, which already serve over 50,000 customers annually, into the Uber platform. Blade operates flights from Manhattan to major airports like JFK and Newark, as well as routes in Southern Europe, including Nice to Monaco.
In a statement, Joby founder and CEO JoeBen Bevirt expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “Integrating Blade into the Uber app is the natural next step in our global partnership with Uber and will lay the foundation for the introduction of our quiet, zero-emissions aircraft in the years ahead.” The integration is set to enhance user experience by allowing Uber customers to book air travel seamlessly.
Uber’s president and COO, Andrew Macdonald, highlighted the transformative potential of this partnership. He stated, “Since Uber’s earliest days, we’ve believed in the power of advanced air mobility to deliver safe, quiet, and sustainable transportation to cities around the world.” This collaboration aims to create a new era of travel, combining Joby’s innovative technology with Uber’s extensive customer network.
Joby’s strategic focus on electric air taxis reflects a growing trend in urban transportation, responding to increasing demand for sustainable travel solutions. By utilizing Blade’s established network and operational expertise, Joby intends to accelerate its entry into the air taxi market.
As preparations unfold, customers may soon find themselves ordering air taxis through the Uber app to access heliports in urban centers, offering a glimpse into the future of transportation. With plans for expansion into markets such as Japan and the United Kingdom, Joby Aviation is poised to redefine urban mobility.
This collaboration not only enhances Joby’s operational capabilities but also signifies a pivotal moment in the evolution of urban air travel, making it increasingly accessible to the public. The integration of air taxi services into widely used platforms like Uber could revolutionize how people navigate densely populated cities, setting the stage for a new chapter in transportation.
