Podcast: Joe Lonsdale: American Optimist
Episode: Ep 114: Flying Cars Are About to Change the World — Joby CEO JoeBen Bevirt
Release date: 2025-06-04

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JoeBen Bevirt has spent two decades building electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, and now he's on the cusp of commercial approval and rollout. Will flying cars be as transformational as the automobile? How will air taxis impact our cities and the way we live? And how did JoeBen achieve this feat of ingenuity?

This week we're joined by the Co-Founder and CEO of Joby Aviation, an American aviation company pioneering eVTOL aircraft for air taxi service. All-electric, virtually silent, and traveling up to 200mph with a pilot and four passengers, Joby is opening new possibilities in the skies above — starting at the price of an Uber Black. The implications for productivity and quality of life are massive, saving the average person an hour or two a day sitting in traffic and unlocking new swaths of land for development.

I'm proud that 8VC co-led Joby's first investment round about a decade ago, when many others, even flying enthusiasts, thought it was a pipedream. Since then, Joby has single-handedly shaped an entire new industry, from engineering breakthroughs to regulatory pathways, ensuring that American aviation stays ahead of China. Joby expects its first passenger rides in Dubai within a year and is working closely with the Trump administration as it nears the final stages of FAA approval. Inspired by SpaceX, Joby is vertically integrated and plans to aggressively ramp manufacturing here in the U.S., backed by a $500 million investment from Toyota (bringing Toyota's total investment near $900 million). While we await the first passenger flights, Joby is also building out its infrastructure nationwide — and they're looking for real estate and partners! You can contact JoeBen and the team here: info@jobyaviation.com

00:00 Episode Intro

01:38 Flying cars are here

04:00 JoeBen's journey

05:48 Battery progress & hydrogen breakthroughs

08:50 Air taxi for the price of Uber Black

12:35 When will commercial flights start?

20:30 Why Joby is the industry leader

24:20 Why China is copying Joby

28:00 How air taxis will change your life

32:10 How Joby will transform real estate

35:45 Solving intractable problems

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