Joby Aviation, a company focused on developing electric air taxis for commercial passenger transport, and Metropolis Technologies, a company specializing in artificial intelligence applied to physical environments, announced a strategic alliance to develop 25 vertiports in the United States, leveraging Metropolis’ existing infrastructure.

The initiative will utilize Metropolis’ network of more than 4,200 parking locations and over 350 aviation-serviced facilities in North America, with the goal of integrating electric air mobility into the ground transportation ecosystem. The vertiports will be evaluated at both new and existing facilities and will be located in early electric air taxi markets.

The project includes the incorporation of AI-based recognition technologies, computer vision, and biometrics, as well as complementary baggage handling services, to facilitate efficient, safe operations that comply with regulatory requirements. These vertiports will function as integrated mobility hubs, enabling a seamless transition between ground and air transportation.

In the short term, Joby’s Blade Urban Air Mobility unit will utilize Metropolis’ Bags VIP services in the New York City area, supporting approximately 5-minute flights between Manhattan and JFK and Newark airports, compared to ground commutes that can exceed 120 minutes during peak hours.

The alliance is built on Metropolis’ recent expansion following its acquisition of SP+ for $1.5 billion and a $1.6 billion Series D funding round, solidifying its position as the largest parking operator in North America. For Joby Aviation, this agreement reinforces its strategy of scaling electric air mobility by leveraging existing infrastructure, reducing the need to develop new facilities from scratch and accelerating commercial deployment.

Source and Credits to Joby Aviation

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