• 09 Apr 2022 07:06 AM
• 0

Building Global Partnerships

A series of new partnerships have now put Joby on the map in East Asia. On Feb. 6, Joby announced that it had partnered with South Korea’s SK Telecom on the launch of an air taxi service. The two companies will promote Joby’s aircraft for the Korean Urban Air Mobility Roadmap, an initiative of the South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT). Then, on Feb. 14, Joby announced a partnership with Japan’s All Nippon Airlines (ANA). Together with Toyota Motor Corporation, Joby and ANA will collaborate on all aspects of bringing advanced air mobility (AAM) operations to Japan, including infrastructure, pilot training, and regulatory requirements, among other areas.

The news comes as the concept of aerial ridesharing is gaining prominence in Japan ahead of the 2025 World Expo in Osaka. It is also a reminder of ANA’s beginnings as Japan Helicopter and Aeroplane Transports Company, which launched a helicopter service in 1953, prior to expanding its portfolio to include fixed-wing airplanes for commercial cargo and passengers.

In addition, Joby announced on Dec. 21 that it had completed the acquisition of Inras GmbH, a company specializing in the design of radar systems and based in Linz, Austria.

The Uber Elevate program that Joby inherited had conducted some international outreach activities, but these are the first known steps under Joby leadership.