TOKYO (Reuters) - Joby Aviation Inc, a U.S. air taxi startup backed by Japanese automaker Toyota Motor (NYSE:TM) Corp, said on Tuesday it has applied to Japan's transport ministry for aircraft certification as it prepares to launch urban transportation services.
Joby, in which Toyota has invested $394 million, designs and builds all-electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
The startup in May received certification from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) allowing it to begin commercial air-taxi operations with conventional aircraft.
The California-based startup has more regulatory hurdles to clear in the United States before its five-seater eVTOL aircraft can fly passengers.