Ohio to Manufacture Cutting-Edge Electric Planes for Air Taxis
By Julie Carr Smyth | The Associated Press
The Ohio river valley, known for being the birthplace of human flight by the Wright brothers, will soon be the manufacturing hub for state-of-the-art electric planes that can take off and land vertically. This groundbreaking agreement was announced on Monday between the state of Ohio and Joby Aviation in Santa Cruz.
Republican Governor Mike DeWine expressed his excitement, stating, “When you’re talking about air taxis, that’s the future. We find this very, very exciting – not only for the direct and indirect jobs it will create, but as a signal that Ohio is looking towards the future. This is a big deal for us.”
The electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft are gaining popularity worldwide as a potential alternative for transporting individuals or small groups from rooftops and parking garages to their destinations, bypassing congested roads. While concerns about noise levels and charging demands remain, developers are confident that these planes will soon become a widely-used mode of transportation.
Joby Aviation’s decision to establish its first large-scale manufacturing facility at Dayton International Airport marks the culmination of two decades of efforts by Ohio’s leaders, according to Republican Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted. The strategic location near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratories will further support their operations.
Spanning a century of aviation innovation, Dayton, Ohio holds great significance as the hometown of the Wright brothers. Joby chose to formalize its announcement at Orville Wright’s home, Hawthorn Hill, and concluded with a ceremonial flypast of a replica of the Wright Model B Flyer to honor their legacy.
Joby’s production aircraft is designed to carry a pilot and four passengers, reaching speeds of up to 200 miles per hour with a maximum range of 100 miles. The company boasts a quiet noise profile that is barely noticeable in urban environments. Their plan is to integrate these aircraft into aerial ridesharing networks starting in 2025.
Joby’s ambitious project is supported by major partnerships with Toyota, Delta Air Lines, Intel, and Uber. As a 14-year-old company that went public in 2021, Joby became the first eVTOL firm to receive U.S. Air Force airworthiness certification.
The $500 million project has received up to $325 million in incentives from the state of Ohio, JobsOhio economic development office, and local government. Joby’s plans include constructing a facility in Ohio capable of producing 500 aircraft per year and creating 2,000 jobs. The U.S. Department of Energy has also invited Joby to apply for a loan to support the facility’s development as a clean energy project.
Speaking about their choice to select Ohio, Joby CEO JoeBen Bevirt explained that it was not solely based on financial incentives but also because of the state’s expertise in manufacturing, particularly in supplying parts for Boeing and Airbus. Bevirt stated, “Ohio is No. 3 in the nation for manufacturing jobs, and that depth of manufacturing prowess, that workforce, is critical to us as we look to build this manufacturing facility.”
JobsoOhio President and CEO J.P. Nauseef highlighted the region’s resilience amidst economic challenges and expressed his enthusiasm for the project, saying, “It really marries those two together, and that’s never been married together before – not in this town. For a community the size of Dayton and Springfield, (whose people) take great pride, (and) have had rough, rough decades, it’s a wonderful project.”
Joby’s operations and hiring will commence immediately from existing buildings near the development site, subject to the necessary legal and regulatory approvals. The site has ample space to eventually accommodate approximately 2 square feet (18.58 hectares) of manufacturing space.
Construction of the manufacturing facility is scheduled to begin in 2024, with production commencing in 2025.
Toyota, a long-term investor in Joby, collaborated with the company in 2019 to design and successfully launch a pilot production line in Marina, California. The automaker will continue to provide guidance as Joby prepares for scaled production of their commercial passenger air taxi.
The announcement coincides with efforts by a bipartisan group of Ohio’s congressional representatives to attract the new U.S. Air Force’s U.S. Space Command headquarters or Space Force units to Ohio. The aerospace legacy of the Wright brothers, along with Ohio-born astronauts John Glenn and Neil Armstrong, are key factors in the state’s pitch.
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Earlier versions of this article were corrected to reflect that the description of incentives and company investment is additive, with up to $325 million in incentives as part of the $500 million total, and to indicate that the name of the airline is Delta Air Lines, not Delta Airlines.
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