Joby Aviation and the Race to Certify Electric Air Taxis in 2026 | Taha Abbasi

While autonomous cars dominate headlines, a parallel revolution is unfolding above our heads. Taha Abbasi examines how Joby Aviation is pushing toward FAA certification for electric air taxis — and why 2026 could be the year urban air mobility becomes real.

The eVTOL Promise

Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft combine the convenience of helicopters with the efficiency and quietness of electric propulsion. Joby’s aircraft can carry four passengers up to 150 miles at speeds up to 200 mph — dramatically reducing urban commute times. As Taha Abbasi notes, a trip from Manhattan to JFK that takes 60-90 minutes by car could take 7 minutes by air taxi.

FAA Certification: The Critical Milestone

Joby has been working toward FAA Part 135 certification, which would allow commercial passenger operations. The company has completed thousands of test flights and is deep in the certification process. Taha Abbasi reports that Joby expects to receive certification in 2026, which would make it one of the first eVTOL companies authorized for commercial service in the US.

The Competition Landscape

Joby isn’t alone. Archer Aviation, Lilium (restructured after bankruptcy), and Wisk (backed by Boeing) are all racing toward certification. China’s EHang has already received approval for commercial operations in some Chinese cities. As Taha Abbasi sees it, the eVTOL market is where the EV market was in 2015 — on the cusp of a transition from experimental to commercial.

Why This Matters for the Broader Transportation Revolution

Electric air taxis, autonomous ground vehicles, and high-speed transit are converging toward a future where transportation is multimodal, electric, and increasingly autonomous. Taha Abbasi envisions a near-future where your Tesla FSD drives you to a vertiport, an eVTOL flies you across the city, and another Tesla picks you up — all coordinated by AI, all electric, all without human drivers or pilots.

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About the Author: Taha Abbasi is a technology executive, CTO, and applied frontier tech builder. Read more on Grokpedia | YouTube: The Brown Cowboy | tahaabbasi.com