Flying taxis, once the stuff of sci-fi movies, were widely expected to make a big splash by whizzing over the city of lights during festivities at the Paris Olympics last summer — before getting scrapped due to certification concerns.
That isn’t stopping Toyota from pouring more money into air mobility.
The Japanese giant is making another $500 million investment in Joby, the California-based company that last November pioneered the first-ever test flight of an air taxi over the skies of a crowded U.S. metropolis (New York City). Just last month, Joby also signed an agreement with the United Arab Emirates that could allow for commercial passenger services to start in Dubai as early as 2025.
Plans for U.S.-based commercial operations are also underway: Delta Air Lines is in partnership with Joby to eventually offer air taxis as a perk for its travelers, while United Airlines is partnering with Archer Aviation.
Air Taxis, also known as electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles, promise to offer a much faster, quieter, and cleaner (free of carbon emissions) mobility service compared to ground transportation.
Joby says its electric air taxi is designed to carry a pilot and four passengers at speeds of up to 200 miles per hour. Some eVTOL vehicles are also being designed to operate autonomously.
Toyota’s interest in Joby began in 2019. With the latest tranche of money, the Japanese giant has now invested close to $900 million to support the certification and commercial production of Joby’s electric air taxi.
In addition to money, Toyota says it is investing time and resources to share its knowledge of process planning, manufacturing, and tooling design with the Joby team in California. Last year, the two companies signed an agreement for Toyota to supply key powertrain and actuation components for Joby’s aircraft.
Safety and certification processes remain the biggest hurdle for the full development of air taxi services, as the canceled Olympic flight of Germany’s Volocopter demonstrated.
But many companies around the world, such as Hyundai and China’s XPeng HT Aero, are also vying for a share of the air mobility market. The ground taxi service and e-hailing market is currently estimated at $500 billion around the world, according to consulting firm McKinsey. And more than 20% of people currently using these ground services can “definitely imagine” hopping on flying taxis.
Actual plans for air taxi operations in the U.S. remain so far tied to airport-to-city services. But Joby, for its part, has been looking further ahead ever since it bought Uber Elevate in 2020,and is hoping to someday pair its air taxis with Uber’s ride-hailing app.
https://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/toyota-joby-investment/
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Ugandan Citizen Abducted, Held in Secret Detention for Three Months, Sparks Outrage and Calls for Justice
A disturbing new case of unlawful detention has surfaced, highlighting the ongoing human rights crisis in Uganda. A Ugandan citizen was reportedly abducted and held in a secret facility, known as a “safe house,” for three months, only to be released without charge or explanation. This incident, reported by NTV Uganda, has sparked widespread condemnation and renewed calls for accountability regarding human rights abuses in the country.
While the details surrounding the abduction remain unclear, reports indicate that the individual was taken without due process and held incommunicado—an action that has long been condemned by human rights organizations. The victim’s release, with no charges filed and no clear justification, has angered activists and citizens, who view this as yet another case of egregious abuse of power by the state.
“This is a recurring pattern,” said one human rights activist. “Abductions, secret detentions, and unexplained releases have become all too common in Uganda. These acts violate fundamental human rights and erode public trust in the justice system.”
The use of “safe houses,” unregistered detention facilities reportedly operated by security forces, has been a focal point in numerous allegations of torture and illegal imprisonment. Despite repeated calls from both local and international organizations for their closure and accountability for those involved, little action has been taken to address these violations.
This case underscores the urgent need for reform within Uganda’s security apparatus and greater accountability for human rights abuses. Observers hope that drawing attention to these injustices will spur concrete action to bring those responsible to justice and ensure the protection of basic human rights.
As frustration mounts, calls for both domestic and international pressure to hold the government accountable for such crimes grow louder. “One day, there must be accountability for all these crimes against our people,” stated one social media user, reflecting the sentiments of many Ugandans.
National Unity Platform (NUP) President Robert Kyagulanyi has accused Ugandan security forces of using excessive force to disrupt a planned NUP gathering. The allegations were detailed in a statement shared on Twitter, following an event held to honor children of NUP supporters who were killed, disappeared, or detained for their political beliefs.
According to Kyagulanyi, security personnel, under the command of an officer identified as Asiimwe, carried out a preemptive operation early in the morning upon learning of the NUP’s plans. The forces allegedly stormed the premises, arrested workers, and deployed tear gas to disperse those present.
“The criminals under the command of one Asiimwe deployed early morning, arrested our workers, and threw tear gas into our premises. They’ve cordoned off the premises and blocked all people from accessing the place,” Kyagulanyi wrote.
Among those reportedly arrested were Saava Peter, Mudenya Samson, and Turyasingura Samson. Kyagulanyi claimed the detained workers were subjected to beatings and interrogated about their political affiliations, with security operatives labeling them as terrorists.
“These JATT operatives asked the workers who they support politically, branding them terrorists and criminals—their only crime being that they work with us. You can imagine the indignity!” Kyagulanyi lamented.
This incident adds to the growing tension in Uganda’s political climate, where opposition parties frequently accuse the government of stifling dissent. Despite the challenges, Kyagulanyi ended his statement with a message of defiance and optimism, proclaiming, “UGANDA WILL BE FREE.”
NUP Gathering Disrupted: Kyagulanyi Alleges Security Force Harassment and Arrests
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Sudan Demands Apology from Uganda Over Army Chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s Threat to Invade Khartoum
Sudan has demanded an official apology from Uganda over “offensive and dangerous” comments made by the chief of Uganda army staff, who threated to invade Khartoum, the Sudan Tribune has reported.
General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, son of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and CDF of the Ugandan army, posted two comments on the X platform on Tuesday in which he threatened “to capture Khartoum” with the support of the US President elect Donald Trump after he takes office. The posts were deleted later.
“The government of Sudan demands and official apology from the Ugandan government for the offensive and dangerous comments of the army commander,” Sudan’s foreign ministry said in a statement that the Sudan Tribune said it has seen.
Sudan Demands Apology from Uganda Over Army Chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s Threat to Invade Khartoum