• Joby Aviation’s air taxi is a piloted, five-seater vehicle capable of flying 320 kilometers per hour and cover a distance of 240km on a single charge
  • The aircraft is 100 times quieter than conventional aircraft during take-off and landing, and near-silent when flying overhead

Jameel Investment Management Company (JIMCO), the investment arm of Abdul Latif Jameel, has announced its participation in a Series C round of funding for California-based start-up Joby Aviation, which raised an additional $590 million in capital.

JIMCO joined the round as a new investor alongside Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC), a long-term business partner of Abdul Latif Jameel, and lead investor in Joby’s Series C funding, and Baillie Gifford. Adding to new and prior investments by SPARX Group, Intel Capital, Capricorn Investment Group, JetBlue Technology Ventures, 8VC, Toyota AI Ventures, and AME Cloud Ventures, the latest investment round brings Joby Aviation’s total funding to $720 million – making it the best-funded electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) start-up globally.

The move is in line with Abdul Latif Jameel’s strategy of making high-stakes investments in the future of mobility. Abdul Latif Jameel has a strong track record as a value-adding investor – supporting innovative start-ups in the evolving mobility industry, and by bringing long-standing regional expertise and access to a global network of partners.

A pioneer in the electric air taxi market, Joby Aviation is developing and certifying a piloted, all-electric, vertical take-off and landing aircraft. The vehicle will enable affordable air taxi services both in the Middle East and globally.

Hassan Jameel, Deputy President and Vice Chairman of Abdul Latif Jameel, said:

“Through JIMCO’s investment, Abdul Latif Jameel is leveraging its regional expertise for Joby Aviation. Air taxi service is still in the early stages of commercialization, but one that has the potential to completely transform the future of mobility. We are excited to be a part of this new chapter for the sector, bringing fast, affordable, and zero-emissions air mobility to Saudi Arabia and the wider MENA region. Improving daily transportation in line with environmental sustainability is a mission we share with all our partners in business, and one which we are committed to delivering on.

Paul Sciarra, Executive Chairman of Joby Aviation, comments:

“We are very pleased to have Abdul Latif Jameel as new backers in our recent Series C financing round. We respect their track-record of significant investment in the future of electric mobility.” 

 About Joby Aviation

Joby Aviation is a California based aerospace company that is developing and commercializing all-electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (designated by the FAA as the S4) to enable the deployment of fast, quiet and affordable air taxi services. The Company’s mission is to get people to their destination five times faster than driving, reduce urban congestion, and accelerate the shift to sustainable modes of transit. Founded in 2009, Joby pioneered the development of eVTOL aircraft and has offices in Santa Cruz, San Carlos and Marina, CA. You can find more information at www.jobyaviation.com.

About JIMCO/Abdul Latif Jameel

Jameel Investment Management Company (JIMCO) the investment arm of the Abdul Latif Jameel Company. Abdul Latif Jameel (ALJ) is a diversified family business, established 75 years ago in Saudi Arabia, and today is a global operator and investor in multiple sectors, including automotive (i.e Rivian) and energy with a presence in over 30 countries and approximately 15,000 employees worldwide.

For further inquiries on Abdul Latif Jameel, feel free to reach out to our communications team on media@alj.ae or on +971 4 448 0906.

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