Toyota has injected a second round of funding into Joby Aviation, one of the leading figures in electric vertical take-off and landing craft for public transport.

Joby Aviation, one of the US eVTOL startups that is most advanced in its eVTOL development program, announced on October 2, 2024, that Japanese car maker Toyota is investing an additional $500 million into the venture. Toyota has been an investor in Joby from an early stage, through its Toyota Ventures venture capital arm.

Toyota is investing another $500 million in Joby Aviation as part of a partnership aimed at helping get the American air taxi company’s commercial business off the ground.

Toyota Motor Corp. is investing an additional $500 million to support the certification and commercial production of Joby Aviation Inc.’s electric air taxi.

Auto giant Toyota is investing another $500 million into Joby, which pioneered the first test flight of an air taxi over the skies of New York City.The Latest Tech News, Delivered to Your Inbox

While we’re still waiting for those flying cars, Toyota is betting high and hard on electric air taxis. The automaker just earmarked another $500 million for Joby Aviation, which increases Toyota’s total support (so far) to nearly 900 million dollars.

Robotaxis aren’t the only place where the basic concept of “pay someone with a vehicle to take me a short distance” is undergoing some high-tech permutations. There’s also the matter of air taxis: small vehicles that can take you somewhere local — and where,