JAPAN TIMES

 

Joby Aviation, a U.S. startup backed by Toyota Motor, said Monday that it has begun demonstration flights of its "flying cars" in New York.

The electric vertical takeoff and landing, or eVTOL, aircraft flew between John F. Kennedy International Airport and Manhattan.

Toyota has invested $894 million in the startup and has been involved in its design and electrification technology development.

According to U.S. media outlets, Joby Aviation will conduct flying car test flights this week along the city's existing helicopter flight routes, carrying only pilots and no passengers.

The startup said it aims to begin passenger flights with eVTOL aircraft in New York, Texas and other states as early as the second half of this year.