Joby Aviation Targets Parking Lots for Scalable US Vertiport Network

Joby Aviation is advancing its vision for urban air mobility by targeting an unexpected but highly practical location for vertiports: existing parking lots. The electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) developer has partnered with Metropolis Technologies to develop more than two dozen vertiport sites across the United States, leveraging underused parking infrastructure to accelerate deployment and reduce development costs.

The initiative reflects a pragmatic approach to scaling advanced air mobility, focusing on locations that are already embedded within urban transport ecosystems. Parking facilities are typically situated near airports, downtown business districts, entertainment venues, and transit corridors, making them well suited for integration with future air taxi operations. By repurposing existing assets rather than building entirely new facilities, Joby aims to shorten timelines, simplify permitting, and lower barriers to entry as commercial eVTOL services move closer to launch.

Metropolis Technologies brings experience in managing and optimizing large parking portfolios through data-driven systems, which Joby sees as a key advantage. The collaboration is designed to evaluate site suitability, passenger flow, charging requirements, and operational efficiency, ensuring vertiports can be deployed in a scalable and repeatable way. For cities facing congestion and land-use constraints, the reuse of parking infrastructure also aligns with broader urban planning goals focused on smarter mobility solutions.

The project is supported by the advanced air mobility strategy of the US Department of Transportation, which encourages integration of eVTOL infrastructure into existing transportation hubs. Federal guidance emphasizes interoperability with airports, public transit, and ground transportation networks, positioning vertiports not as standalone facilities but as extensions of multimodal transport systems. Joby’s parking-lot strategy closely follows this framework, aiming to embed air taxis into daily travel patterns rather than treating them as niche or premium-only services.

As Joby progresses toward certification of its electric air taxi and prepares for initial commercial operations, infrastructure readiness remains one of the sector’s biggest challenges. By focusing on parking lots—assets already zoned, accessible, and connected—the company is betting that vertiports can be rolled out faster and more economically than traditional aviation infrastructure. If successful, the approach could provide a blueprint for other advanced air mobility operators seeking rapid, urban-friendly expansion while minimizing cost and complexity.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com

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Joby Aviation Targets Parking Lots for Scalable US Vertiport Network

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