Joby Aviation hasn’t operated in stealth mode, but nor have they tended to make large announcements about product development.  Now, for the first time, Joby has released video footage of the Joby Aviation air taxi in flight.  (See the flight video and the CEO merger announcement below.)

The quiet, all electric vehicle can carry 5 passengers a distance of 150 miles, at speeds of up to 200 mph.

Joby recently announced a “Special Purposes Acquisition Company” (SPAC) merger with Reinvent Technology Partners, which valued Joby at just over $5.7B USD. The merger also paves the path to bringing Joby public.   A recent DRONEMASTERS Briefing stated that “Joby Aviation, an U.S. urban air mobility provider, is going public in the second quarter of this year.”  There is major appetite for publicly traded drone companies now, especially in the urban air mobility market, as indicated by increased activity for EHang’s stock.

This may be the final boost that the Joby Aviation air taxi needs to take to the skies by 2024, as the company plans.  Joby has already acquired Uber Elevate, which not only provided a funding arrangement but could also indicate a very ready market in urban air mobility.

“..We are one step closer to making this fantastic future real. We can’t wait to welcome you onboard.  Thank you so much,” said JoeBen Bevirt, Joby founder and CEO, in the merger announcement.