AUTONEWS

Joby eVTOL: South Korean flying car that completed a series of demonstration flights

The eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) industry is buzzing, and Joby may have just taken the lead in the race. The company has completed a series of demonstration flights in South Korea and secured certifications for its flying car in three major countries: the United States, Japan and South Korea.

Joby had already distinguished itself by being one of the first companies in the industry to complete the construction of the first aircraft from its production line – and with certification to fly.

As reported by Autoevolution, Joby became the first eVTOL company to complete a series of demonstration flights. The feat took place during the K-UAM Grand Challenge, a sports flying car event that is part of a government program of the Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The goal is to confirm the safety of the models in urban environments, in order to begin commercialization from 2025.

Joby did not just make one flight. The company's flying car performed a series of demonstrations over the course of an entire week (including a full-scale flight) to demonstrate its capabilities and strengths. The event concluded with a final flight in front of 200 guests, including authorities from the United States and South Korea. With this achievement, Joby's flying car received an airworthiness certificate in South Korea, where it can now begin air taxi services; The company also has a license to fly in Japan and the United States; In the United States, Joby has completed the fourth prototype of the aircraft that will go into production and has already confirmed the city of Dayton, Ohio, as the site for commercial-scale manufacturing. 

The Joby eVTOL seats four passengers and one pilot, and has an estimated range of 161 km on a single charge. Its top speed is 321 km/h. In addition to the three countries mentioned, the company has also received requests to fly in Australia.

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