Joby Aviation, an electric air taxi company, has acquired the autonomy division of Xwing, which has been developing automated flying technology since 2016. This acquisition marks a significant step for Joby in advancing its capabilities in autonomous flight technology.
Xwing has been flying autonomous aircraft since 2020, using software developed in-house. Joby, however, has clarified that it has no immediate plans to operate its air taxis without pilots, as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has yet to include pilotless passenger-carrying flying taxis in its regulations.
Joby’s founder and CEO, JoeBen Bevirt, commented on the acquisition, stating, “The exceptionally talented Xwing team has not only made unparalleled progress on the development and certification of vision systems, sensor fusion, and decision-making autonomous technologies, but they’ve also successfully demonstrated the real-life application of their technology, flying hundreds of fully autonomous flights in the national airspace.”
The integration of Xwing’s autonomy division into Joby’s operations will provide the company with valuable expertise in perception technology, system integration, and certification. This move aligns with the industry’s long-term expectation that passenger-carrying electric aerial vehicles will eventually operate without on-board pilots.
Archer Aviation, another major air taxi company, has also entered into agreements for future autonomous flight, demonstrating the industry’s shift towards autonomous operations. Boeing’s acquisition of Wisk Aero further underscores this trend, as the industry continues to explore the potential of autonomous electric aerial vehicles.
Joby’s acquisition of Xwing’s autonomy division includes only the technology division, with other airline assets of Xwing not included in the deal. The acquisition was completed using Joby shares, with specific terms undisclosed.
This acquisition not only enhances Joby’s technological capabilities but also strengthens its relationship with the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD). Joby has been actively collaborating with the DOD, including delivering its eVTOL vehicles to military bases and participating in military exercises.
