Joby Aviation, a leader in the development of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, announced on Tuesday its acquisition of the autonomy division of Xwing, a pioneer in technology for autonomous flight operations. This move marks a significant enhancement in Joby’s technological portfolio, especially after Xwing’s notable achievements in autonomous aviation, including conducting unmanned cargo operations for the Air Force.
The specifics of the financial terms remain undisclosed. However, the acquisition sees Joby absorbing approximately 40 specialists, including engineers and researchers, from Xwing’s autonomy division. Notably, Maxime Gariel, a co-founder, president, and chief technology officer at Xwing, is among those transitioning to Joby.
Joby has consistently focused on advancing its eVTOL aircraft to provide air taxi services in urban environments globally. The company also maintains robust engagement with the U.S. Defense Department, holding $163 million in potential contracts. These collaborations focus on testing various logistical applications of its aircraft, including personnel transport, casualty evacuation, and support for security forces.
Earlier this year, under the AGILE FLAG 24-1 exercise initiated by the Air Force, Xwing showcased its autonomous capabilities through 22 hours of human-supervised flights across 2,800 miles. Utilizing a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, the operations included multiple take-offs and landings at both public and military airports, underscoring the feasibility and safety of unmanned flights in unrestricted airspace.
Xwing also achieved a milestone in 2023 by becoming the first company to secure the Federal Aviation Administration’s approval for the certification of a large unmanned aircraft system. This preceded their acquisition of an Air Force Military Flight Release, setting a precedent in the industry.
With the acquisition, Joby aims to integrate and expand its autonomy capabilities, potentially accelerating its projects with the Department of Defense (DoD). Joby’s founder and CEO, JoeBen Bevirt, emphasized the strategic importance of the acquisition, stating, “The aircraft we are certifying will have a fully-qualified pilot on board, but we recognize that a future generation of autonomous aircraft will play an important part in unlocking our vision of making clean and affordable aerial mobility as accessible as possible.”
Meanwhile, Xwing retains ownership of Martinaire and Airpac, two small airlines that operate air charter cargo services, indicating a strategic refocus on its remaining operations.