Overview
- Joby Aviation has confirmed a partnership with Atoms, the infrastructure firm founded by Travis Kalanick, to develop a national network of vertiports for electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft.
- The companies will prioritize site searches in Florida, New York, Texas and California as initial markets for vertiport acquisition and development.
- Atoms brings a portfolio focused on 'smart infrastructure' and operations, including CloudKitchens, Lab37 and Pronto, which Joby says supports building charging, passenger and logistics systems for vertiports.
- Joby is positioned as one of the early U.S. eVTOL entrants and is participating in government integration programs designed to speed commercial rollout, but aircraft and operations still require regulatory certification.
- Next steps call for site identification, detailed design and city engagement, with any commercial service contingent on municipal approvals and final FAA certification for the aircraft and operations.