Joby Aviation and ANA Holdings have announced plans to launch more than 100 electric air taxis in Japan, beginning with Tokyo, as part of a joint venture to develop a nationwide air mobility network.
The expanded partnership between the US eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft manufacturer and Japan’s largest airline will be showcased with public demonstration flights at EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan from October 1–13, featuring a Joby aircraft in ANA livery.
Koji Shibata, president and CEO of ANA HD, said the initiative was “a pivotal step forward” in addressing Japan’s urban transport challenges. “Air taxi service will enhance regional exchange and provide a new, efficient means of travel,” he said. “Demonstration flights at the Expo are the first step.”
Joby founder and CEO JoeBen Bevirt called Japan “an extraordinary launchpad for redefining the future of air mobility” and said the partnership aimed to “build new pathways in the skies and reimagine everyday life.”
Joby’s eVTOL aircraft combines vertical takeoff like a helicopter with forward flight like a plane, producing minimal noise and zero operating emissions. Designed to carry a pilot and four passengers at speeds up to 200 mph (320 km/h), it can cut journey times dramatically – reducing trips that take an hour by car to just minutes – while reducing congestion and air pollution.
The partnership will also focus on developing the infrastructure and services needed for commercial air taxi operations, including vertiports, pilot training programmes and maintenance support. Toyota Motor Corporation, an investor in Joby, is among the project’s key partners.
ANA HD and Joby say they are working closely with national and local governments and private sector companies to accelerate deployment. The long-term goal is a phased rollout of air taxi services across Japan in the coming years.
At EXPO 2025 in Osaka, Joby will perform piloted flights demonstrating vertical takeoff, transition to wingborne flight, and landing.
AloJapan.com