Joby Faces China-Ties Fraud Claims While Securing FAA eVTOL Program and $51M ARK Investment
Archer filed a California countersuit accusing Joby of leveraging undisclosed Chinese government ties and misclassifying Chinese-origin materials to evade U.S. tariffs and oversight. Joby secured an FAA eVTOL pilot program to begin operations in 10 states in 2026 and drew a $51 million stake boost from ARK Invest.
1. Legal Countersuit Filed
Archer filed a countersuit in California accusing Joby of hiding ties to the Chinese government and misclassifying thousands of pounds of Chinese-origin aircraft materials as consumer goods to evade U.S. tariffs and foreign-influence oversight, while alleging fraud against the U.S. government.
2. FAA eVTOL Pilot Program Secured
Joby secured a partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program, clearing the path for commercial operations across 10 states starting in 2026 and marking a pivotal step toward its service launch.
3. ARK Invest Increases Position
Following the FAA announcement, ARK Invest purchased 27,759 additional shares of Joby for its ARKQ and ARKX funds, lifting its total investment in the eVTOL developer to over $51 million and signaling strong institutional support.