Joby Aviation and Uber Technologies announce an expanded partnership to integrate Blade’s air mobility services into the Uber app by 2026, setting the stage for the eventual introduction of Joby’s electric air taxi service. This collaboration underscores a strategic move in the nascent urban air mobility sector, with both companies anticipating significant long-term growth despite current financial and regulatory hurdles.

Joby and Uber Expand Air Mobility Partnership

Joby Aviation, Inc. (JOBY) and Uber Technologies, Inc. (UBER) announced on September 10, 2025, an expansion of their global partnership to integrate Blade’s air mobility services into the Uber application. This strategic move, slated for launch as early as next year, follows Joby’s acquisition of Blade’s passenger business in August 2025 and aims to lay the groundwork for the future introduction of Joby’s quiet, zero-emissions electric air taxi service in key global markets.

Strategic Integration Details

The integration will allow Uber users to book Blade flights directly through the Uber app, providing access to an established network of routes that served over 50,000 passengers in 2024 across the New York metropolitan area and Southern Europe. This includes high-traffic destinations such as Newark Liberty International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, Manhattan, and the Hamptons. Joby’s acquisition of Blade’s passenger business was valued at up to $125 million, payable in Joby stock or cash, including performance-based holdbacks.

This partnership is designed to leverage Blade’s existing infrastructure and operational experience, accelerating Joby’s ambitious plans to launch its electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft service in cities like Dubai, New York, Los Angeles, London, and Tokyo. Joby’s eVTOL aircraft is designed to carry four passengers and a pilot at speeds up to 200 miles per hour, boasting an acoustic impact reportedly 100 times lower than traditional helicopters. This collaboration provides Joby with immediate revenue potential and critical operational infrastructure, bridging the gap until its eVTOL aircraft achieve full commercialization.

Market Reaction and Company Performance

Following the announcement, Joby’s stock experienced a gain, rising 7.5% on the news. In the broader context, Joby’s stock had surged over 160% in the past year as of September 10, 2025, and gained nearly 72% year-to-date. However, the stock has also demonstrated volatility, experiencing a 36% decline since its August peak. Joby maintains a market capitalization of $11.49 billion and a strong financial position, with more cash than debt on its balance sheet. Despite these positive indicators, Joby, a pre-revenue entity, reported a significant earnings miss for Q2 2025, with earnings per share at -$0.41 against a forecasted -$0.19, and revenue at $20,000 compared to an anticipated $1.57 million. Sales expectations for the current fiscal year were subsequently revised down from $2.2 million to $232,000, and for the next year from $60 million to $28 million, with an estimated annual cash burn of $800 million.

Uber, a long-standing investor in Joby with investments totaling $125 million, reported robust Q2 2025 earnings, beating expectations with revenue of $12.65 billion (an 18% year-over-year increase) and an EPS of $0.63. Uber’s continued involvement and the integration into its widely used platform underscore the potential for the advanced air mobility sector.

Navigating the Urban Air Mobility Landscape

The expanded partnership signifies a crucial advancement for the broader urban air mobility sector, positioning Joby as a potential leader in this burgeoning market. The long-term outlook for this sector is substantial, with analysts projecting the urban air mobility market could reach $280 billion in passenger revenue by 2045. The eVTOL aircraft market alone is anticipated to expand from $0.76 billion in 2024 to $4.67 billion by 2030, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 35.3%, with some aggressive projections suggesting a CAGR of 52% to reach $23.4 billion by 2030.

However, the path to widespread commercialization is fraught with challenges. These include securing stringent regulatory approvals, overcoming technological integration hurdles, managing high development costs, and navigating an intensifying competitive landscape. Despite Joby’s impressive gross profit margins above 52%, the company’s pre-revenue status and projected unprofitability for the current year highlight the speculative nature of the eVTOL market.

Regulatory Pathway and Global Ambitions

Joby is actively pursuing regulatory approvals, with specific timelines for both U.S. and international markets. In the U.S., the company is currently in Stage 4 of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)’s 5-step type certification process, having completed 70% of its responsibilities for this stage, while the FAA has completed over 50% of its part. Joby anticipates its pilots will commence flight testing of the first conforming aircraft for Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) in 2025, with FAA pilots beginning their testing shortly thereafter in early 2026. The target for full FAA type certification and initial commercial launch in major U.S. cities, including Los Angeles and New York, is mid-to-late 2026.

Internationally, Dubai and the United Arab Emirates are key targets. Joby plans to deliver an aircraft to Dubai in mid-2025 for flight testing, with commercial operations aimed for late 2025 or early 2026. The company secured an exclusive agreement with Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA) in 2024, and vertiport construction at Dubai International Airport is projected to conclude by Q1 2026. Broader international expansion plans include certification applications in Australia and the UAE, with FAA Type Certification recognized by aviation authorities in Japan and the United Kingdom, facilitating expansion into these regions.

Analyst Outlook and Future Considerations

The strategic partnership with Uber and the acquisition of Blade’s passenger business are viewed as critical steps in establishing a new era of safe, quiet, and sustainable urban air travel. Analysts and company executives express optimism regarding the future of this collaboration:

"We're excited to introduce Uber customers to the magic of seamless urban air travel," said JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby. "Integrating Blade into the Uber app is the natural next step in our global partnership with Uber and will lay the foundation for the introduction of our quiet, zero-emissions aircraft in the years ahead."

Andrew Macdonald, President and COO of Uber, commented, "Since Uber's earliest days, we've believed in the power of advanced air mobility to deliver safe, quiet, and sustainable transportation to cities around the world. By harnessing the scale of the Uber platform and partnering with Joby, the industry leader in advanced air mobility, we're excited to bring our customers the next generation of travel."

Despite the significant capital expenditure required—Joby’s cash, cash equivalents, and investments stood at $991 million at the end of Q2 2025, with an annual cash burn forecast between $500 million and $540 million for 2025—strategic investments from entities like Toyota and the established relationship with Uber provide substantial financial backing. The successful navigation of regulatory processes and the efficient scaling of production capabilities, including its Marina, California facility designed to produce 24 aircraft annually, will be pivotal for Joby to capitalize on the immense potential of the urban air mobility market. Investors will continue to monitor regulatory milestones, cash burn rates, and market penetration in both domestic and international markets as Joby progresses towards full commercialization.