Joby Aviation and Toyota have formed a manufacturing partnership designed to produce up to 500 electric air taxis per year in Ohio, with expanded California operations targeting hundreds of new skilled factory jobs in aerospace and advanced manufacturing. On June 30, 2026, the two companies launched the Joby Toyota Aero Manufacturing Preparation Company (JTAMPC), a joint venture that represents a significant shift from investment to hands-on production. Toyota holds a 51 percent majority stake while Joby retains 49 percent, with Toyota committing an initial $1.02 million and Joby contributing $980,000, followed by a much larger $250 million investment tranche tied to regulatory approvals and production milestones.

Why Does an Air Taxi Factory Matter for American Workers?

Manufacturing employment in the United States has been uneven, with the sector adding roughly 5,000 jobs in January 2026 and 15,000 in March, according to the source material. A new domestic production line for high-value aircraft represents exactly the kind of reshoring opportunity that could reverse years of factory job decline. The financial incentive is compelling: aerospace product and parts manufacturing carried the highest median annual wage of any manufacturing industry in 2024 at $91,630, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, precisely because building aircraft demands technical expertise and rigorous quality control.

The venture positions itself at the intersection of three high-wage sectors: aerospace, automotive, and clean energy manufacturing. When a Toyota-scale operation establishes production capacity in this space, it typically lifts an entire regional supplier base, creating jobs beyond the factory floor itself.

How Many Jobs Could This Venture Create?

While Joby has not published specific headcount numbers for the joint venture, the facility plans reveal the scale of the opportunity. The expanded Marina, California site spans approximately 435,500 square feet and is designed to build up to 24 aircraft per year once fully operational, with Joby already committing to add hundreds of full-time jobs at that location. The larger prize sits in Ohio, where Joby is renovating a facility at Dayton International Airport designed to eventually produce up to 500 aircraft per year, more than 20 times the Marina site's capacity.

A plant scaling toward 500 aircraft annually cannot operate with a skeleton crew. It requires assembly technicians, quality inspectors, test staff, materials handlers, and supervisors across multiple shifts. When you combine the Marina jobs already promised with a Dayton production line aiming at that volume, the workforce will be measured in the many hundreds, and likely thousands as production ramps and suppliers scale up around it.

What Skills Do Advanced eVTOL Manufacturing Jobs Require?

An electric air taxi is a hybrid machine, part aircraft, part electric vehicle, part software platform, and its assembly line reflects that complexity. The most in-demand roles blend traditional trade skills with newer electronics and systems knowledge. Consider the core production crew needed:

• Composite Technicians: Workers who can lay up and cure lightweight carbon-fiber structures essential to aircraft construction and weight reduction.
• Electrical and Battery Assembly Workers: Specialists who handle high-voltage powertrains safely and assemble complex battery systems for electric propulsion.
• Avionics and Wiring Specialists: Technicians who install and test aircraft electrical systems, navigation equipment, and communication systems.
• Precision Machinists: Skilled workers who manufacture tight-tolerance components for aircraft structures and mechanical systems.
• Quality Assurance Inspectors: Professionals who verify that every component meets aerospace standards and safety requirements.

The federal labor data supports strong demand for these profiles. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects approximately 13,100 openings per year for aircraft and avionics mechanics and technicians through 2034, along with roughly 4,500 openings annually for aerospace engineers and about 900 per year for aerospace engineering technologists and technicians. Many of these jobs do not require a four-year degree, making them a genuine path to high-paying careers without college debt. Workers with automotive, aerospace, or general fabrication experience will find their skills largely transfer, with the gap typically being specific certifications rather than entirely new education.

Which Regions Stand to Benefit Most?

Geography shapes manufacturing opportunity, and this venture concentrates jobs in specific locations. Marina and the wider Monterey County area of California anchor the pilot production line, while Dayton, Ohio is positioned to become the high-volume heart of the operation. Ohio already carries deep aerospace and advanced manufacturing heritage, and a 500-aircraft-per-year line at its international airport would integrate naturally into that existing base. Santa Cruz and San Carlos add engineering and powertrain roles in the Bay Area, creating a distributed network of hiring centers across multiple states.

A single flagship plant rarely hires in isolation. It pulls in local suppliers, logistics firms, and training providers, which is how one factory can reshape an entire regional job market. For workers weighing a relocation, these metros represent the kinds of places winning the 2026 race for skilled manufacturing employment.

How to Position Yourself for Advanced Manufacturing Roles

If you are in or near manufacturing, the practical move is to position yourself for advanced, higher-wage production work before the Dayton line fully ramps up. Here are the key steps to take:

• Map Your Existing Skills: Assess your current experience against aerospace requirements. An auto plant technician, marine fabricator, or electronics assembler already possesses transferable skills that aerospace employers value.
• Pursue Relevant Certifications: Identify specific certifications in composite work, avionics, high-voltage battery assembly, or precision machining that close the gap between your current skills and aerospace standards.
• Network in Regional Manufacturing: Connect with local suppliers, training providers, and existing aerospace employers in your region to understand the hiring pipeline and get early visibility into job openings.
• Develop Electronics and Systems Knowledge: Even traditional trade workers benefit from understanding electrical systems, battery technology, and software integration, the hybrid skills that define modern aircraft assembly.

The timing matters. Joby's expanded Marina facility and the Dayton plant represent a multi-year ramp, meaning hiring will accelerate over the next 24 to 36 months as production scales. Workers who build relevant credentials now will be positioned for the highest-wage roles when those facilities reach full capacity.