Electric Air Taxi Manufacturing Plant Headed to Ohio

DAYTON, Ohio — Joby Aviation, Inc., a major player in the emerging electric aircraft sector, announced Monday it will invest up to $500 million to build a first-of-its-kind manufacturing plant near Dayton International Airport.

The new plant will build, test and fly all-electric, vertical take-off and landing air taxis that will mainly be used for commercial passenger operations.

But what’s truly historic, company officials said, is that the assembly line based facility will eventually be capable of delivering as many as 500 of these specialized aircraft a year — an unprecedented scale of production.

Right now the plan is to have the plant open in 2025 and fully built out by 2028. Once the 2 million square foot facility is completely up and running, it is expected to employ about 2,000 people at an average salary of about $70,000 a year.

“Ohio’s legacy in aviation leadership begins with the Wright Brothers and continues now with Joby Aviation, as they launch a new era in advanced aviation manufacturing and aerial mobility in Dayton,” said Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine in a written statement.

“The aircraft that will roll off Joby Ohio’s production lines will redefine urban transportation and contribute to a transformational change in the way people and goods travel. We welcome Joby and celebrate the new chapter of air mobility history that will be made here in Ohio, the heart of aviation and aerospace,” he said.

The aircraft, designed to accommodate a pilot and four passengers, will be capable of achieving speeds of up to 200 miles per hour over a 100-mile range. 

Joby Aviation plans to operate the aircraft as part of aerial ride-sharing networks in cities and communities around the world.

Officials said state and local incentives for the project could reach as high as $325 million, with additional money potentially available to the company through the U.S. Dept. of Energy’s Title XVII loan program.

“Ohio has a long, rich history in aviation, and we’re proud to bring the next chapter of that story to life in the place where it all started,” said JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby Aviation.

“As one of the top states in the country for aviation manufacturing and innovation, Ohio will play an important role in the future of our industry, and we’re looking forward to growing our team here,” he continued. “We’re grateful to Gov. DeWine, Lt. Gov. Husted, Sen. Brown, Sen. Vance, Rep. Turner, and the team at JobsOhio for continuing to grow Ohio’s leadership in aviation and ensuring the U.S. continues to lead the way in delivering quiet, emissions-free flight.”

Ohio is currently home to 583 aerospace businesses, which employed nearly 130,300 people in 2022. According to the Aerospace Industries Association, Ohio’s aerospace industry is responsible for $42.3 billion in economic output.