Joby Aviation, a company developing electric air taxis for commercial passenger service, has begun manufacturing propeller blades at its Dayton, Ohio facility. This milestone expands the in-house manufacturing of a critical conforming component and builds on the work already underway in Ohio, including testing, underscoring Dayton's historic role in aircraft production ahead of commercial launch.

“Dayton gives us the resources, talent and speed to scale one of the most technically demanding parts of our aircraft,” says Eric Allison, chief product officer at Joby. “Joby's propeller blades are a key part of what makes our aircraft special, central to its low acoustic profile and the result of a decade of complex engineering.”

Designed for quiet flight and built with extreme precision, the propeller blades require complex carbon manufacturing processes and a highly skilled workforce, both of which are available in Dayton. With five blades per propeller and 30 per aircraft, production could reach up to 15,000 blades a year as part of Joby's plan to scale in Ohio. Conforming blades, namely those meeting all requirements for FAA inspection and certification, are expected to be completed next month, with installation on flight test aircraft targeted for next year.

Over time, Joby's Dayton footprint is expected to be able to support production of up to 500 aircraft a year, making this facility a strategic site for the mass production of its aircraft components.

Joby selected Dayton for its strong heritage of aerospace and advanced manufacturing, highly skilled local workforce and close proximity to critical suppliers. With nearly every component needed for blade production available within a 30-minute radius of the site, the region provides a strong foundation for efficient, high-quality manufacturing at scale.

This work will support Joby's type and production certification programmes and provide capacity to expand operations in the years ahead. Having built and refined its manufacturing processes in California with Toyota, Joby is now applying those learnings to scale production in Ohio. Dayton is expected to become the company's long-term hub for blade production, backed by the space, resources and talent needed to meet growing demand. The expansion reinforces Joby's integrated manufacturing strategy, linking operations in California and Ohio to prepare for commercial service at scale.

To mark the start of production, Joby will host an event at the Dayton facility November 10th, bringing together local leaders, partners and team members to commemorate the site's opening and highlight the region's role in advancing the next generation of aviation.