Ready for take-off: experimental air-taxi spotted in skies over Oakland

California Post ^ | 3/12/26 | Pierce Sharpe

[Libloather]

A flying taxi took a spin over San Francisco Thursday — and the Bay Area’s tech crowd was there to watch.

The small electric aircraft from Joby Aviation flew across San Francisco Bay near the Golden Gate Bridge during a demonstration flight that drew reporters and industry guests to the St. Francis Yacht Club.

The flight is part of the company’s push to launch electric air taxis — small vertical takeoff planes designed to carry passengers on short trips of roughly 10 to 50 miles.

Joby’s aircraft seats four passengers and uses six propellers. The company says rides could cost $100 to $170, roughly the price of an Uber Black, for trips like San Francisco to Napa.

Santa Cruz–based Joby Aviation is one of several companies racing to bring eVTOL aircraft — short for electric vertical takeoff and landing — to market. Rival Archer Aviation, based in San Jose, is developing similar aircraft.

Both companies are currently going through certification testing with federal regulators before launching commercial passenger service.

Joby was selected by the U.S. Department of Transportation to participate in a federal pilot program aimed at speeding up eVTOL deployment.

Commercial flights could begin this year in several states, including New York, Texas and Florida, with California expected to follow.

[NetAddicted]

My city is big, but not huge. Our rush hour is crowded, but not impassible.

[wasmv80]

I expect sales to a variety of people and services that fly in many areas that are remote or the roads are subject to flooding and landslides ... or the roads are too rough, or too soft.

There are many locations where fuel trucks are blocked from further progress, but electricity is available either by wire or solar storage.

So, when and where the going gets tough, what Joby makes, will serve. Joby has R&D models of fuel cell vTOL and hybrid vTOL.