Santa Cruz, CA, July 15, 2025 — Joby Aviation, Inc. (NYSE: JOBY), a leader in developing electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft for commercial passenger service, has announced significant expansions to its manufacturing facilities in Marina, California, and Dayton, Ohio. These developments enhance Joby’s capacity to scale production and advance sustainable urban air transportation.

Overview of manufacturing expansion

Joby Aviation has doubled its production capacity at its Marina, California, facility, now spanning 435,500 square feet. This expansion supports the company’s goal of scaling commercial eVTOL operations. Additionally, a newly renovated facility in Dayton, Ohio, is being ramped up to manufacture and test aircraft components, strengthening Joby’s production network.

• Marina Facility: Expanded to produce up to 24 eVTOL aircraft annually, approximately one every two weeks, with capabilities for FAA production certification, ground and flight testing, pilot training simulators, and aircraft maintenance.
• Dayton Facility: Focused on component manufacturing and testing, with plans to scale production to 500 aircraft per year, supporting Joby’s Pilot Production Line.

Critical Comment: The dual-site expansion reflects a strategic balance between immediate production goals in Marina and long-term scalability in Dayton. The ambitious target of 500 aircraft annually in Dayton highlights the need for robust infrastructure and workforce development to meet FAA certification requirements.

Strategic production advantages

Joby leverages two core strategies to enhance production efficiency: end-to-end supply chain control and collaboration with Toyota’s lean manufacturing expertise.

End-to-end supply chain control

Joby manages nearly all aspects of its eVTOL operations in-house, including design, manufacturing, pilot training, and service operations. This approach accelerates development, ensures quality control, and enables rapid reconfiguration for applications like hydrogen-electric propulsion testing.

Critical Comment: End-to-end control minimizes reliance on external suppliers, reducing risks of delays or quality issues. However, it requires significant investment in infrastructure and expertise, which Joby mitigates through strategic partnerships.

Collaboration with Toyota

Toyota’s engineers work closely with Joby, providing expertise in lean manufacturing principles, process optimization, and custom tooling development. This partnership enhances assembly efficiency and production scalability.

Critical Comment: Toyota’s proven manufacturing methodologies, as applied to Joby’s eVTOL production, underscore the value of cross-industry collaboration. The challenge lies in adapting automotive principles to aerospace’s stringent regulatory environment.

Commitment to U.S.-driven technological advancement

Joby emphasizes U.S.-based innovation, leveraging talent and advanced technologies at its California and Ohio facilities. The company employs data-driven manufacturing optimization and additive manufacturing to produce components that are lightweight, durable, and adaptable. The Marina expansion will create hundreds of full-time jobs, boosting local economies.

Critical Comment: The focus on U.S. innovation aligns with national priorities for advanced manufacturing. However, scaling job creation and technology adoption requires sustained investment in workforce training and infrastructure.

Community and economic support

The expansion was supported by a $9.8 million grant from the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) and a $10 million equipment cost reduction program through the California State Treasurer’s Office. Local workforce, elected officials, and community organizations played a key role in enabling the Marina facility’s growth.

Critical Comment: Public-private partnerships are critical for scaling innovative industries like eVTOL. These grants reduce financial barriers but require Joby to demonstrate measurable economic impacts to justify continued support.

Production and certification goals

The Marina facility will support initial FAA production certification, while Dayton’s operations aim for large-scale production. Joby’s broader manufacturing network includes:

• Santa Cruz, CA: Headquarters for innovation and system architecture.
• San Carlos, CA: Focused on powertrain and electronics.
• Dayton, OH: Component manufacturing and testing.
• Marina, CA: Core production and testing hub.

The recent addition of a sixth eVTOL aircraft, certified for airworthiness within a week, demonstrates Joby’s accelerated production and testing capabilities.

Critical Comment: Achieving FAA certification is a pivotal milestone for commercial operations. The rapid certification of the sixth aircraft suggests robust processes, but scaling to 24 aircraft annually in Marina and 500 in Dayton will test Joby’s operational maturity.

Sources: jobyaviation.com