‘Historic day’: Commercial air taxies coming to Dayton, creating 2K jobs, governor says

DAYTON, Ohio (WXIX) - Commercial air taxis are coming to Dayton in a half-billion-dollar manufacturing facility that will create 2,000 jobs, Gov. Mike DeWine’s office announced Monday morning.

Joby Aviation’s new assembly-line plant will build, test, and fly all-electric, vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) air taxis that mostly will be used for commercial passenger operations, DeWine’s news release states.

The aircraft is designed to accommodate a pilot and four passengers and can reach speeds up to 200 miles per hour over a 100-mile range.

Joby plans to operate the aircraft as part of aerial ridesharing networks in cities and communities around the world.

“Ohio’s legacy in aviation leadership begins with the Wright Brothers and continues now with Joby Aviation, as they launch a new era in advanced aviation manufacturing and aerial mobility in Dayton,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine.

“The aircraft that will roll off Joby Ohio’s production lines will redefine urban transportation and contribute to a transformational change in the way people and goods travel. We welcome Joby and celebrate the new chapter of air mobility history that will be made here in Ohio, the Heart of Aviation and Aerospace.”

The company will invest at least $477.5 million in the 140-acre site at the Dayton International Airport and plans to produce up to 500 aircraft per year, state officials say.

Construction on the facility is expected to start next year and come online in 2025.

The company’s total new payroll is expected to surpass $140 million.

In the interim, the corporation will use existing nearby buildings for operations.

The aircraft is designed to accommodate a pilot and four passengers.

It can reach speeds up to 200 miles per hour over a 100-mile range.

Ohio is home to 583 aerospace businesses, which employed nearly 130,300 people in 2022.

According to the Aerospace Industries Association, Ohio’s aerospace industry is responsible for $42.3 billion in economic output.

“Ohio has a long, rich history in aviation, and we’re proud to bring the next chapter of that story to life in the place where it all started,” said JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby Aviation.

“As one of the top states in the country for aviation manufacturing and innovation, Ohio will play an important role in the future of our industry, and we’re looking forward to growing our team here.”

The Ohio Department of Development Tax Credit Authority will consider a Job Creation Tax Credit (JCTC) with an estimated value of $93 million and JobsOhio is considering a JobsOhio Grant of $110 million for Joby as well as Talent Acquisition Services to help Joby with its overall talent strategy, state officials said Monday.

The services will be tailored to Joby’s needs, including elements such as attraction, engagement, selection, sourcing of candidates, and training.

Joby officials say they plan to pursue Ohio’s TechCred assistance to prepare current and future employees for these high-tech manufacturing jobs and local incentives.

Joby Aviation’s Ohio production site investment is expected to significantly impact economic growth both in Ohio and across the U.S., DeWine says.

The new facility, he says, will likely draw other advanced air mobility opportunities to Ohio, causing a ripple effect that could lead to an overall $13 billion economic impact statewide and the creation of 15,000 new Ohio jobs by 2045.

According to Morgan Stanley, this economic growth potential will transcend state and national lines with a projected global economic impact of $9 trillion by 2050.

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