Production Updates
Joby Aviation Expands eVTOL Production for 2026 Air Taxi Launch
Joby scales manufacturing in CA/OH, advances FAA certification, and partners with Toyota ahead of planned 2026 Dubai air taxi service launch.
Joby Aviation, Inc. (NYSE: JOBY), a leading developer of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, has taken significant steps toward commercial readiness by expanding its manufacturing capabilities in California and Ohio. These developments come as the company prepares for the commercial launch of its air taxi services, initially targeted for Dubai in 2026, followed by major U.S. cities such as New York and Los Angeles.
The expansion includes a doubling of its production capacity at its Marina, California facility, the ramp-up of operations in Dayton, Ohio, and the addition of a sixth aircraft to its test fleet. These moves reflect Joby’s transition from research and development to scaled manufacturing, positioning it as a key player in the rapidly growing eVTOL market.
Joby’s vertically integrated approach, handling design, certification, manufacturing, training, and operations in-house, combined with strategic partnerships, notably with Toyota, underscores its ambition to lead the next generation of urban air mobility.
Joby’s Marina facility now spans approximately 435,500 square feet after a major expansion. This site is central to the company’s near-term production strategy and will support the assembly of up to 24 aircraft annually, roughly one every two weeks. The expansion also includes an FAA certification testing center, a pilot training simulator hub, and aircraft maintenance operations.
This growth was supported by a $9.8 million California Competes grant awarded in 2023 and additional state incentives. The funding helped offset equipment costs and enabled Joby to scale operations without compromising financial stability. The facility is expected to generate hundreds of full-time jobs, with a commitment to create 690 new jobs in California by 2027.
Local officials have praised the expansion. Bruce Delgado, Mayor of Marina, noted that Joby’s presence brings high-tech and clean manufacturing jobs to the region, while Monterey County Supervisor Wendy Root-Askew highlighted the strength of public-private partnerships in supporting innovation and job creation.
“Joby benefits all of our tri-county community. We’re pleased to see Joby continue to invest in expanding its presence at Marina Municipal Airport.”, Bruce Delgado, Mayor of Marina
In parallel, Joby is ramping up operations at its Dayton, Ohio facility, acquired in 2024 at the Dayton International Airport. This site will focus on manufacturing and testing aircraft components for Joby’s Pilot Production Line. It is a cornerstone of Joby’s long-term plan to produce up to 500 aircraft annually.
The Ohio facility is part of a broader $500 million investment plan, supported by up to $325 million in state and local incentives. Equipment installation is underway, and the facility is expected to create up to 2,000 jobs as production scales. This strategic move positions Joby to meet growing demand for eVTOL aircraft in both domestic and international markets. By diversifying its manufacturing footprint, Joby aims to mitigate risk, optimize logistics, and enhance production efficiency. The Dayton site complements the Marina facility by focusing on component manufacturing, allowing for a more streamlined final assembly process in California.
Joby recently added a sixth aircraft to its test fleet, which earned airworthiness certification within a week of completion. This rapid certification underscores the company’s maturing manufacturing and quality assurance processes. The aircraft was showcased during a celebratory flight over the expanded Marina facility.
The company has also achieved several key milestones in its FAA certification journey. These include simultaneous two-aircraft flights and full transition tests, where the aircraft shifts from vertical takeoff to forward cruise and back. Joby has completed over 30 FAA “for-credit” tests and is currently in Stage 4 of 5 in the type certification process.
These accomplishments are crucial as Joby prepares for commercial operations. Certification is not only a regulatory requirement but also a validation of safety, reliability, and performance, critical factors for public acceptance and market adoption.
Toyota has played a pivotal role in Joby’s evolution from a startup to a production-ready aerospace manufacturer. The Japanese automaker has invested $500 million into Joby, with the first $250 million tranche closing in May 2025. Toyota engineers are embedded within Joby’s teams, contributing expertise in design, assembly, and quality control.
This collaboration has enabled Joby to adopt automotive-style precision manufacturing techniques, which are essential for scaling production while maintaining high safety and performance standards. Toyota’s involvement also lends credibility to Joby’s operations and opens doors to global supply chain networks.
Eric Allison, Chief Product Officer at Joby, emphasized the importance of this partnership, stating that reimagining urban mobility requires speed, scale, and precision, qualities that Toyota’s manufacturing systems help deliver.
Beyond battery-electric aircraft, Joby is exploring hydrogen-electric propulsion through its German subsidiary H2FLY. In a recent milestone, H2FLY completed a 523-mile zero-emission flight using liquid hydrogen. This development could position Joby to serve regional travel markets in the future, expanding its total addressable market. While the current focus remains on urban air mobility, hydrogen-electric technology offers a path to longer-range, sustainable aviation. If commercialized, it could enable Joby to offer services beyond city commutes, including intercity and rural connectivity.
Industry analysts have noted that this innovation contributed to a recent surge in Joby’s stock price, reflecting investor optimism about the company’s broader technological roadmap.
Joby plans to launch its commercial air taxi services in Dubai in early 2026, under an exclusive six-year agreement with the local government. This will be followed by rollouts in U.S. cities like New York and Los Angeles.
Joby’s vertical integration, handling everything from aircraft design to operations, gives it a competitive edge in a crowded eVTOL market. Competitors include Archer Aviation, EHang, and Beta Technologies. However, Joby’s partnerships with Delta Air Lines and Uber, along with its exclusive rights in Dubai, differentiate it from peers.
The company is also benefiting from recent regulatory developments. The FAA has published guidelines for eVTOL pilot training and operations, providing a clearer path to certification and commercial deployment.
Joby Aviation’s recent manufacturing expansion, technological advancements, and strategic partnerships mark a significant shift from prototype development to commercial readiness. With facilities in California and Ohio, a growing fleet, and strong regulatory progress, the company is well-positioned to meet its 2026 launch targets.
While challenges remain, including certification hurdles, capital expenditure management, and market adoption, Joby’s deep integration of engineering, manufacturing, and operations gives it a unique advantage. The next 12–24 months will be critical as the company transitions from vision to execution in the emerging eVTOL sector.
What is Joby Aviation? Where are Joby’s manufacturing facilities located? When will Joby’s air taxi service launch? How many aircraft can Joby produce annually? What technologies is Joby exploring beyond eVTOL?
Joby Aviation Expands Manufacturing Capacity to Accelerate eVTOL Production and Commercial Launch
Scaling Up: Manufacturing Expansion in California and Ohio
Marina, California: Doubling Down on Production
Dayton, Ohio: Scaling Toward Mass Production
Fleet Expansion and Certification Milestones
Strategic Partnerships and Technological Innovations
Collaboration with Toyota: A Manufacturing Edge
Hydrogen-Electric Potential: Expanding the Vision
Commercial Launch Plans and Market Position
Conclusion: A Company on the Cusp of Commercial Flight
FAQ
Joby Aviation is a U.S.-based aerospace company developing electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for commercial passenger service.
Joby has manufacturing facilities in Marina, California and Dayton, Ohio. The California site focuses on final assembly while the Ohio site handles component production.
Joby plans to launch its commercial air taxi service in Dubai in early 2026, followed by U.S. cities like New York and Los Angeles.
The Marina facility is targeting 24 aircraft per year, while the Dayton facility is being scaled to support up to 500 aircraft annually.
Joby is also developing hydrogen-electric propulsion through its subsidiary H2FLY, which recently completed a successful long-range test flight.
Sources
Photo Credit: Joby Aviation
Production Updates
SpaceX Starbase Gigabay $250M Texas Facility for Starship Production
SpaceX plans 700k-sq-ft Texas facility to produce 3 Starships daily by 2026, advancing Mars colonization through vertical integration.
SpaceX has officially filed plans to construct a 700,000-square-foot manufacturing facility known as “Gigabay” at its Starbase complex in Boca Chica, Texas. This facility, expected to cost $250 million and be completed by December 2026, represents a significant expansion of SpaceX’s production capabilities. The project was detailed in a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, marking a new phase in the company’s ambition to mass-produce its fully reusable Starship rocket.
Gigabay is not just another building; it is a cornerstone in SpaceX’s strategy to achieve high-volume manufacturing of Starships, targeting up to three vehicles per day. This would represent an exponential increase from current output levels and would enable the company to support large-scale missions, including those aimed at Mars colonization. The facility’s construction also signals SpaceX’s commitment to vertical integration, bringing more of its production processes in-house to reduce costs and increase efficiency.
Located in a remote coastal area, Starbase is evolving into a central node in SpaceX’s broader infrastructure network. The Gigabay’s scale, design, and function align with Elon Musk’s vision of making humanity a multiplanetary species, and its development could redefine how space vehicles are manufactured in the 21st century.
SpaceX chose Boca Chica, a sparsely populated area near Brownsville, Texas, as the site for its private launch facility in 2014. Initially intended for Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches, the site pivoted in 2018 to focus exclusively on the Starship program. The area offered unique geographic advantages, including open access to the Gulf of Mexico for over-water launches and proximity to the equator, which aids in orbital efficiency.
The transformation of Boca Chica into Starbase has been both rapid and profound. What began as a few temporary tents and welding stations has evolved into a bustling industrial complex. The region’s history, marked by hurricanes and population decline, now includes a new chapter as a hub for space innovation. The population has grown, and infrastructure has expanded to accommodate the increasing demands of SpaceX’s operations.
By 2025, the Starbase site had become a functioning spaceport. The early High Bay structure, once central to prototype assembly, was dismantled in 2025 to make way for Gigabay. This shift underscores SpaceX’s iterative approach to both engineering and infrastructure development, constantly evolving to meet the requirements of rapid prototyping and manufacturing.
SpaceX’s manufacturing capabilities at Starbase have undergone several phases. The early years (2018–2020) relied heavily on temporary structures and manual labor. Engineers worked under large tents, and parts were assembled using basic gantry cranes. The High Bay, completed during this period, allowed for vertical assembly but was limited in capacity.
The “Starfactory” era (2020–2024) introduced more permanent structures. These facilities improved workflow integration and allowed for the production of one Starship approximately every two weeks. However, the demand for higher output necessitated a more advanced solution. That solution is Gigabay. Designed to integrate advanced automation and vertical workflows, Gigabay will allow for parallel assembly lines, reducing bottlenecks and increasing throughput. The facility is expected to be equipped with robotic arms, 400-ton cranes, and in-situ testing capabilities, making it one of the most sophisticated aerospace manufacturing plants in the world.
“Building the machine that builds the machine is harder than the machine itself.” — Elon Musk Gigabay is designed with a focus on scalability and automation. Its 700,000-square-foot footprint and 380-foot vertical clearance make it one of the largest industrial structures dedicated to aerospace manufacturing. The facility will house 24 modular work cells, each capable of handling different stages of Starship assembly.
Each cell will be equipped with robotic arms for precision alignment of components, and overhead cranes capable of moving Super Heavy boosters, each weighing over 230 tons, without disassembly. This modular approach allows for simultaneous construction of multiple vehicles, significantly boosting production rates.
Another key feature is the facility’s vertical integration. Upper floors will manage avionics and engine assembly, while the lower levels will handle structural mating and integration. The inclusion of cryogenic proofing and static fire testing within the facility itself eliminates the need for external transportation, streamlining the validation process.
SpaceX aims to reduce the time between flights by incorporating refurbishment bays directly adjacent to the production lines. This setup supports rapid reusability, a cornerstone of the Starship program’s economic model. By minimizing downtime, the company hopes to make spaceflight as routine as air travel.
The integration of in-situ testing capabilities also marks a significant advancement. Previously, vehicles had to be moved to separate test stands, adding time and logistical complexity. Now, vehicles can be tested and validated within the same facility where they are built.
These innovations are aligned with Musk’s goal of producing up to 1,000 Starships annually. While that number remains aspirational, the infrastructure being put in place is a clear step toward making it a reality.
Gigabay’s construction and operation are subject to a range of regulatory and environmental reviews. In May 2025, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved an increase in launch frequency from Starbase, from five to 25 launches annually. This approval is crucial for supporting the high flight cadence needed to justify Gigabay’s production capacity. Texas Senate Bill 2188, passed in March 2025, allows SpaceX to close public access to Boca Chica Beach during weekday launches. This legislation was introduced in response to safety concerns but has also sparked criticism from environmental and community groups. These groups argue that the closures limit public access and disrupt local ecosystems.
SpaceX has responded by securing $7.5 million in state grants aimed at supporting the incorporation of Starbase as a municipality. This move could give the company more control over local governance, but it also raises questions about corporate influence in public affairs.
Gigabay represents a bold step forward in SpaceX’s mission to make space travel more accessible and sustainable. By combining advanced manufacturing techniques with large-scale infrastructure, the facility is poised to redefine aerospace production. Its success will depend on the company’s ability to execute complex workflows while maintaining high standards of safety and reliability.
As the facility moves toward its projected completion in December 2026, it stands as a testament to SpaceX’s long-term vision. Whether or not the company achieves its ambitious production targets, the development of Gigabay marks a significant milestone in the journey toward making humanity a multiplanetary species.
What is the purpose of SpaceX’s Gigabay? Where is Gigabay located? When will Gigabay be completed? How much will it cost? What are the environmental concerns? Sources: Houston Chronicle, GlobalData, FAA, Texas Tribune, NASA
SpaceX’s Starbase Gigabay: A $250 Million Leap Toward Interplanetary Ambition
Historical Context of Starbase and Boca Chica
Strategic Evolution of Production Infrastructure
Gigabay Technical Specifications and Capabilities
Manufacturing Innovation and Reusability
Regulatory and Environmental Considerations
Conclusion: Pathways to Interplanetary Scalability
FAQ
Gigabay is designed to mass-produce Starship rockets, with a target of building up to three vehicles per day.
The facility is being constructed at SpaceX’s Starbase complex in Boca Chica, Texas.
According to filings, the project is scheduled for completion in December 2026.
The estimated cost of the Gigabay project is $250 million.
Critics have raised concerns about restricted beach access and potential impacts on local wildlife due to increased launch activity.
Photo Credit: SpaceX
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