The Challenge
Joby Aviation, a California-based company developing electric air taxis for commercial passenger service, needed to move from engineering to manufacturing at scale — and fast.
With a commercial launch on the horizon, the company required a region that could support the production of one of the most technically demanding aircraft ever built, including propeller blades that require complex carbon manufacturing processes and a highly skilled workforce. Joby also needed a long-term partner capable of supporting its ambition to produce up to 500 aircraft per year … along with additional capacity to double production as market demand accelerated.
The Solution
By selecting Dayton International Airport for a major manufacturing facility in 2023 — a 140-acre site with the potential for up to 2 million square feet of production space — Joby set the foundation for what would become one of Ohio's most compelling advanced manufacturing stories.
Key factors in choosing Ohio included:
Dayton's deep aerospace heritage, and its connection to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the Air Force Research Laboratory
Access to the National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence and 226 square miles of dedicated airspace for testing air mobility vehicles
A highly skilled local workforce experienced in advanced manufacturing and aviation
A dense supplier network, with nearly every component needed for propeller blade production available within 30 minutes of the facility
Strong governmental and policy support, including Ohio's status as the first state to test eVTOL beyond visual line of sight
A collaborative Team Ohio partnership including JobsOhio, the Dayton Development Coalition, the Ohio Department of Development, and the Ohio Department of Transportation
By October 2025, Joby had moved from planning to production, launching propeller blade manufacturing at its Dayton facility. Each aircraft requires 30 blades across six propellers, and as Joby scales, the facility is positioned to produce up to 15,000 blades per year.
In January 2026, Joby acquired a second Ohio facility — more than 700,000 square feet in the Dayton area — to support its plan to double aircraft production to four per month in 2027.
The Results
Jobs Committed:Â 2,000+
Facilities:Â Two manufacturing locations in the Dayton area
Production Milestone:Â Propeller blade manufacturing launched October 2025; second facility operations expected to begin 2026
Production Goal:Â Four aircraft per month by 2027, with long-term capacity for up to 500 aircraft per year
Economic Impact:Â Joby's continued expansion reinforces Dayton's position as a hub for next-generation aviation manufacturing, bringing high-skill, blue-collar jobs to the region while establishing Ohio as a critical node in the future of advanced air mobility
Strategic Advantage: Ohio's aerospace ecosystem, supplier density, workforce depth, and favorable policy environment — including the pending FAA eVTOL Integration Pilot Program — position the state as Joby's long-term home for aircraft manufacturing at scale
The reindustrialization of Ohio has become central to Joby's story. From the world's first aircraft factory to the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton has long been the epicenter of aerospace innovation, and we're proud to be building the next generation of flight in Ohio. With unmatched governmental and policy support, we're ready to make sure that the commercial and defense aircraft that define the future of flight are built right here in America.
JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO, Joby Aviation