Sachin Kansal, Chief Product Officer at Uber, said, “We’ve long believed in the power of advanced air mobility to transform how people move through cities.”
Joby expects to carry its first passengers in Dubai later this year, marking a step in its partnership with Uber to offer multi-modal transport in cities.The companies say the partnership is intended to expand electric air taxi services to other markets after approvals, including New York, Los Angeles, the United Kingdom and Japan.
Joby’s aircraft uses six tilting propellers to take off vertically before transitioning into forward flight.
The aircraft is designed to carry up to four passengers and will be flown by a certified commercial pilot. It will have large windows to provide city views from every seat.The air taxi uses six tilting propellers to take off vertically and then transition to forward flight. It can travel at speeds of up to 200 mph and up to 100 miles on a single charge.
Eric Allison, Chief Product Officer at Joby, said, “Our focus has always been on creating a flight experience that operates quietly and integrates naturally into the rhythm of city life.”
Joby claims that the aircraft is engineered with multiple safety redundancies and designed to operate quietly enough for urban use.
Joby’s aircraft can travel at speeds of up to 200 mph, and has a range of up to 100 miles on a single charge.
Before launching commercial flights in the United States, the service will require testing and certification by the Federal Aviation Administration. Joby says it has completed more than 50,000 miles of flight tests and has begun the final stage of certification.
Uber and Joby have worked together on urban air mobility since 2019. In 2021, Joby acquired Uber’s Elevate division, which focused on developing the sector and tools for market planning and operations.
Last year, the companies also announced plans to add Blade’s commercial helicopter service to the Uber app in 2026 following Joby’s acquisition of Blade’s passenger business.
