Stock prices of JOBY Aviation surge due to the acquisition of Blade and plans for commercial launch of electric air taxis.
Joby Aviation Inc., a leading player in the electric air taxi market, is making significant strides in its mission to revolutionize urban air mobility. With recent developments and strategic partnerships, the company is edging closer to commercial operations.
Blade Acquisition and Global Expansion
In August 2025, Joby announced the acquisition of Blade Air Mobility's passenger business for up to $125 million. This deal includes US and European operations, the Blade brand, and premium infrastructure like terminals at major airports in New York City. By acquiring Blade, Joby gains immediate market access with a loyal customer base (over 50,000 passengers in 2024) and established urban corridors. Blade’s medical logistics division will remain independent as "Strata" with a long-term partnership to access Joby’s eVTOL aircraft for medical missions.
With the integration of Blade's network, Joby is positioning itself as a global eVTOL network operator, expanding its presence from the United States to international cities like Dubai and Tokyo. This acquisition significantly enhances Joby’s global footprint, speeding up customer acquisition and infrastructure deployment.
FAA Certification and Defense Partnerships
Joby is progressing toward Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification, a critical milestone enabling commercial operations. The company has demonstrated successful flights in locations including New York and Dubai, providing evidence of readiness for certification and commercial launch potentially in 2026.
In addition to civil applications, Joby has formed strategic partnerships to broaden the application of its electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft beyond civilian use. One such partnership is with defense contractor L3Harris, to develop a gas turbine hybrid variant of its eVTOL aircraft for low-altitude defense missions.
Commercial Launch Outlook
With these strategic moves, Joby is accelerating its moves toward commercial air taxi service launch within the next year or two, potentially by 2026. The company aims to be a dominant player in the emerging electric air taxi market.
Financial Prospects
Joby expects to use between $500 million and $540 million in cash for 2025, excluding the Blade acquisition. Revenue remains small, but growth projections are huge, with a forecasted 900% year-on-year increase from a low base.
In conclusion, Joby Aviation is transitioning swiftly from development to commercial operations by acquiring Blade’s passenger services for instant market access, advancing FAA certification, establishing strategic partnerships including defense, and driving global expansion of its electric air taxi network.
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