Today, Joby Aviation, a leading air taxi developer, announced that it has narrowed down its search for a new factory location to either Ohio or North Carolina.
The new facility will be used to expand the company’s existing production footprint as it prepares to launch its innovative electric air taxis. The new air taxi factory will be responsible for producing its revolutionary electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The facility is expected to employ up to 1,000 workers and have the capability to produce 1,000 eVTOL air taxis per year.
Joby Aviation has spent the past year discussing the specifications for the new factory with local and regional stakeholders from both Ohio and North Carolina. Each state has presented a list of potential sites for the factory but the company hasn’t decided which one is the best fit.
The key difference between the two states is the level of investment each has offered. North Carolina has offered more incentives in the form of job creation grants, tax credits, and assistance with the infrastructure costs associated with the new facility. Ohio has yet to offer such incentives.
Regardless of which state is selected, Joby Aviation is confident that it will receive the support needed to get production up and running. The company has noted that local stakeholders in both states have been extremely helpful in the decision-making process and appreciates the effort put forth by both Ohio and North Carolina.
Joby Aviation plans to make its decision within the next three months and is expected to begin construction on the new factory by the end of 2021. The new facility is expected to be capable of producing up to 1,000 air taxis annually which could help make eVTOL air taxi services more accessible to the public.
This is an exciting development for Joby Aviation and its mission to revolutionize the transportation industry. The company is committed to creating an environmentally friendly form of transport which could have a huge impact on the way people travel in the future.