Joby’s Flying Cars Set for Dubai Test Flights—Commercial Launch Eyed by 2026

Dubai's skies could soon host the future of urban mobility as Joby Aviation kicks off real-world testing of its electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles. The Silicon Valley startup—valued at $4 billion despite never turning a profit—plans to demonstrate its aircraft in one of the world's most ambitious smart city projects.

Why Dubai? Because where better to beta-test a luxury transport solution than a city that built islands shaped like palm trees? The emirate's Road and Transport Authority has already signed a deal that could see Joby's five-seater air taxis operational by 2026.

The tech works—on paper. Joby's prototype boasts 150 miles of range at 200 mph, with noise levels supposedly quieter than a conversation. But regulatory hurdles remain the elephant in the room (or rather, the drone in the airspace).

Wall Street's betting big, with Joby's stock swinging wildly on every FAA update. Because nothing says 'sound investment' like a pre-revenue company promising flying cars while burning $300 million quarterly. The future's arriving—whether your portfolio's ready or not.

Successful flight tests mean commercial services are not far behind

April saw Joby complete its first “transition” flight in California, but this is the first time the start-up has performed tests as part of a test flight campaign before commercial launch.

The successful tests, scheduled to take place throughout the summer, are a critical moment for the industry, Paul Sciarra, executive chair of Joby noted while pointing out that the concept of air taxis has excited people for quite some time.

“…but the real question has been ‘when’ and ‘in what way’ are these products going to get into people’s hands and begin to provide valuable service,” he told the Financial Times.

As far as he is concerned, the tests are proof that commercial air taxi services are now within grasp, and will happen first in Dubai, where construction on the first Joby commercial landing port has begun, before becoming a broad phenomenon around the world.

Joby was founded in 2009 and is among the several start-ups and aerospace incumbents struggling to make the vision of emission-free “urban air mobility” a reality via the launch of “electric vertical take-off and landing” (eVTOL) aircraft.

While there were early promises of a speedy revolution in air travel, the companies have been slow to deliver, with several of them forced to call on investors for more funding while pushing back certification milestones as the challenges of developing these aircraft become clearer.

There are also other issues, including building the necessary infrastructure and winning public acceptance. However, Joby, which listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2021, has some of the deepest pockets in the sector, having raised over $2 billion in funding.

The company’s air taxi will be able to transport a pilot and up to four passengers at speeds of up to 200mph.

Joby chose Dubai as ground zero for its air taxi flights

Paul Sciarra expects Joby to start commercial services by the end of this year or early next year as construction on its first commercial landing port at Dubai’s international airport is already underway.

Why Dubai? According to Sciarra, Joby witnessed a “real willingness to get new modes of transportation into the ecosystem as quickly as possible” in the Arab nation and decided to take advantage.

The company is currently going through the certification process of its aircraft with Dubai’s local regulator and is also working toward getting full approval from the US aviation safety regulator, the Federal Aviation Administration.

Joby is expected to secure approval first in Dubai, after which the US certification is supposed to follow.

“We feel like from this toehold of commercial service in Dubai, then to US FAA certification . . . that allows us global reach in the short-term.”

Joby has come far in its air taxi ambitions, but competition in the sector is heating up with counterparts from different countries, including China, Japan and Europe.

China’s Ehang received the necessary approvals from the country’s aviation regulator earlier this year to start pilotless flights for its autonomous air taxi. However, these flights are limited to exhibitions and showcases.

Archer Aviation, a US-based startup developing eVTOL aircraft for urban air mobility, is also one of the notable companies in the sector. It currently has partnerships with United Airlines and Stellantis, with plans to launch air taxi services in Los Angeles by 2026.

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