Joby installs CAE simulators, eyes late-2026 launch and doubles capacity by 2027
Joby Aviation installed CAE flight simulators at its Marina, California pilot training center as it prepares for urban air taxi service launches in late 2026. The company also reaffirmed plans to double manufacturing capacity by 2027 and its shares have risen over 50% in the past six months.
1. Stock Forms Rare Pattern Suggesting Upside Potential
Joby Aviation’s share performance has traced out a classic cup-and-handle formation over the last six months, a pattern historically associated with breakouts. After peaking in mid-2025, shares declined roughly 26% to establish the cup’s bottom, then consolidated in a tight range for eight weeks to form the handle. Technical analysts note that the handle’s depth of just 6% falls within the ideal 8–12% range, setting up a potential surge if volume expands on a move above the $16 handle high. Institutional interest has ticked up, with two mutual funds adding Joby to their top-10 positions in the latest filings, suggesting that larger players are positioning for the anticipated pattern completion in early 2026.
2. Acquisition of Second Ohio Facility Bolsters Production Capacity
Joby has signed an agreement to acquire a 700,000-square-foot manufacturing center in Dayton, Ohio, its third overall factory and second in the state. The facility is ready for immediate use and will support the planned ramp to four aircraft per month by 2027—double current output—by housing new assembly lines and propeller blade production. Joby has already procured capital equipment for this expansion and begun hiring at its California site to enable 24/7 operations. CEO JoeBen Bevirt highlighted that this additional plant not only accelerates near-term goals but lays the groundwork for scaling beyond 50 aircraft annually by 2028, reinforcing Joby’s commitment to turning its decade-long R&D into commercial volume.
3. Pilot Training and CES 2026 Spotlight Commercialization Progress
In a key step toward launching its urban air mobility service, Joby installed two CAE-built flight simulators at its Marina, California training facility, enabling pilot certification under FAA Part 135 requirements. The simulators mirror the eVTOL’s flight controls and acoustic profile, allowing trainees to log 20 hours of type-specific training before live flights begin. Joby plans to enroll its first class in Q3 2026, in sync with its targeted commercial service launch in late 2026. CEO Bevirt will outline the company’s physical AI architecture and software-defined cockpit strategy at CES 2026 on January 9, aiming to demonstrate how digital flight controls will enable rapid fleet scaling and continuous over-the-air software updates.