Archer’s Federal Suit Alleges Joby Misclassified Thousands of Pounds of Chinese Parts
Archer Aviation filed a federal counterclaim accusing Joby Aviation of sourcing critical eVTOL components through a Chinese subsidiary and mislabeling thousands of pounds of Chinese-origin materials as consumer goods to evade U.S. tariffs and oversight. The suit highlights Joby’s receipt of hundreds of millions in U.S. government funding.
1. Counterclaim Allegations
In a federal counterclaim filed Monday, Archer alleges that Joby relied on a Chinese manufacturing subsidiary to source critical eVTOL components and mislabeled thousands of pounds of Chinese-origin materials as hair clips, socks and photo albums to evade U.S. tariffs and foreign-influence oversight.
2. Original Trade Secret Suit
The counterclaim responds to a November lawsuit in Santa Cruz County in which Joby accused a former employee of taking trade secrets to benefit Archer, underscoring intense legal battles as both companies race to develop electric air taxis and pursue defense applications.
3. Government Funding and Pilot Program
Archer’s complaint notes that Joby has secured hundreds of millions of dollars in U.S. government contracts, including Air Force agreements, and that both companies applied to the FAA pilot program launched under a 2025 executive order, with Archer winning approval for three proposals and Joby for five.