Joby chooses ‘birthplace of aviation’ Dayton to build first scaled facility

Joby has chosen Dayton, Ohio to locate its first scaled aircraft production facility.

Known as the birthplace of aviation, the Wright Brothers lived and worked in Dayton and opened the first airplane factory in the US there in 1910. The city is also home to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, and the headquarters of the USAF Research Laboratories.

Joby plans to build a facility capable of delivering up to 500 aircraft per year at Dayton’s airport, supporting up to 2,000 jobs. The 140-acre site selected could support further growth over time, providing enough land to build up to 2m square feet of manufacturing space. 

“We’re building the future of aviation right where it all started, in Dayton, Ohio,” said JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby. “The Wright Brothers harnessed revolutionary technology of their time to open up the skies, and we intend to do the same — this time, bringing quiet and emissions-free flight that we hope will have an equally profound impact on our world.”

Construction of the scaled Ohio facility is expected to start next year and it is expected to come online in 2025. Joby plans to use existing nearby buildings to begin near-term operations.

The State of Ohio has offered up to $325m to support the development of the facility, while Joby plans to invest up to $500m as it scales operations. 

“The U.S. continues to lead the way on introducing this technology, with unprecedented levels of support across all areas and levels of government. We’re incredibly grateful to Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jon Husted, Senator Sherrod Brown, Senator JD Vance, Representative Mike Turner, and the team at JobsOhio for their support, as well as the representatives of the many other states we worked with during this process,” added Bevirt.

Joby’s long-term investor, Toyota, who worked with Joby on the design and successful launch of the company’s Pilot Production Line in Marina, California, plans to continue to advise Joby as it prepares for scaled production of its commercial passenger air taxi in Ohio.

Joby plans to start hiring in the coming months, with early roles expected to focus on the build out of the scaled facility and the machining of parts that will initially be incorporated into Joby’s California low-volume production line. Those interested in applying for roles at Joby’s Ohio facility can register their interest here.

An event to celebrate the announcement will be held later today at Hawthorn Hill, the home of Orville Wright. The event is expected to conclude with a ceremonial flypast of a replica Model B Flyer, Joby’s first production aircraft.

The firm’s headquarters, research and development, and pilot production facility will remain in California. With approximately 150 open positions across the Company’s three Northern California sites, Joby continues to grow its presence in the state.

Joby is also announcing today that it has been invited by the US Department of Energy to submit a Part II Application for financing under the Title XVII Loan Guarantee Program. The programme provides access to low-interest loans for clean energy projects and would support the scaling of the facility.