Unlocking The Gridlock: Toyota Makes $394 Million Investment In Air Taxi Venture

Toyota Motor Corp. is making a $394 million investment in Joby Aviation, one of the handful of companies with the seemingly implausible goal of making electric air taxis that shuttle people over gridlocked highways and city streets.

Toyota is the lead investor in Joby’s $590 million Series C funding, alongside Baillie Gifford and Global Oryx and prior backers Intel Capital, Capricorn Investment Group, JetBlue Technology Ventures, Sparx Group and its own investment arm, Toyota AI Ventures.
Read Article

vdiv - 1/16/2020 10:44:16 AM

+2 Boost

Those things will never take off, too noisy and too risky.

atc98092 - 1/16/2020 11:13:51 AM

+2 Boost

As an Air Traffic Controller, I can't see where these will work where they are most needed. Busy locations such as the LA basin, New York, or other such congested locations have far too many aircraft in the air already. These will be slower than the majority of other traffic, they'll be too noisy to fly below the existing air traffic, and by the time they navigate clear of traffic they won't offer any faster overall travel than on the surface. Sure, there may be some locations that they will fit, but I can't see it happening where it would be of the most benefit.

CANADIANCOMMENTS - 1/16/2020 12:52:55 PM

-1 Boost

Can't make a real Supra but they have $400m to waste on this. Spare me.