---
title: "Toyota Deploys 200 Staff to Support Joby as Shares Fall 23%"
description: "Toyota Motor Corp. is increasing its involvement with Joby Aviation, deploying nearly 200 staff to support the air taxi developer amid a 23% drop in shares. This shift from capital provider to manufac"
type: "news"
locale: "en"
url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/275938563.md"
published_at: "2026-02-13T19:21:34.000Z"
---

# Toyota Deploys 200 Staff to Support Joby as Shares Fall 23%

> Toyota Motor Corp. is increasing its involvement with Joby Aviation, deploying nearly 200 staff to support the air taxi developer amid a 23% drop in shares. This shift from capital provider to manufacturing partner aims to enhance production efficiency using Toyota's Production System. Joby, currently producing one aircraft monthly, targets four by 2027 and aims for 500 annually post-facility expansion. Certification from the FAA is pending, with passenger flights expected to start this year. Joby's shares fell due to a $1 billion equity offering, despite a recent 2.9% rise in stock price.

Toyota Motor Corp. is intensifying its operational involvement with Joby Aviation as it works to protect its nearly $1 billion investment pledge, shifting from capital provider toward manufacturing partner. After becoming Joby's largest shareholder last year, Toyota has deployed nearly 200 employees to support the air taxi developer with critical parts, production guidance and assembly expertise anchored in the Toyota Production System. Sandy Lobenstein, Toyota's group vice president of flying mobility, indicated the effort is focused on embedding TPS principles directly into Joby's operations, with the goal of improving lead times and supporting a future production ramp.

Joby remains in the pre-commercial phase, producing roughly one aircraft per month at its California facility while targeting an increase to as many as four per month by 2027. Over the longer term, the company has said it aims to reach up to 500 aircraft annually once facilities in California and Ohio are fully built out. Full certification from the US Federal Aviation Administration and other regulators is still pending, though Chief Product Officer Eric Allison said the company is targeting the start of passenger flights this year. Earlier service targets of 2024 and 2025 have been pushed back, and while Dubai had previously been cited as an early launch market, the exact timing remains unclear.

As certification advances and the final $250 million tranche of Toyota's pledged $894 million funding remains outstanding, Joby is assembling prototype aircraft and stress-testing components and manufacturing processes. Management said non-conforming parts are trending in the right direction, without disclosing specific defect rates. Shares are down about 23% this year, pressured in part after the company announced a $1 billion equity and convertible bond offering, though the stock rose 2.9% to $10.16 in New York trading on Friday morning. Toyota is also considering a proposed strategic manufacturing alliance, which could potentially deepen the relationship further as Joby moves toward higher production volumes.

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> **Disclaimer**: This article is for reference only and does not constitute any investment advice.