Atoms, the Industrial AI and Infrastructure company, has entered into a strategic partnership with Joby Aviation, Inc., the company developing electric air taxis for commercial passenger service, to identify, acquire, and develop vertiport locations throughout the United States. The collaboration will initially concentrate on Florida, New York, Texas, and California, where Joby is preparing to begin early commercial activities under the White House-backed eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP). Through this initiative, the companies intend to establish a vertiport network that will support the introduction of electric aviation infrastructure in major U.S. markets. As Joby advances toward commercial deployment, the development of a reliable vertiport network is expected to play an important role in enabling future passenger services and improving connectivity between air and ground transportation.
Joby has continued progressing toward commercial readiness with its electric aircraft. The company has already flown its first FAA-conforming aircraft and has moved into the final stage of FAA type certification. In addition, piloted demonstration flights conducted across the San Francisco Bay Area and New York City have showcased the aircraft’s operational capabilities. As the company moves from the certification phase toward early commercial operations, attention is increasingly shifting from aircraft development to the supporting ground infrastructure. Electric aircraft will require strategically located facilities where they can land, recharge, and efficiently connect passengers with the next stage of their journeys. Developing a scalable vertiport network in the right locations is therefore expected to become a critical factor in integrating electric flight into everyday transportation.
Infrastructure Strategy Focuses on Smart Cities and Future Mobility
Commenting on the partnership, Travis Kalanick, Founder and CEO of Atoms, said, “Smart cities require innovative real estate and infrastructure development,” said Travis Kalanick, Founder and CEO of Atoms.
“As new transport modes and smart city services become available, designing and deploying a new asset class to support them is critical. We’re focused on serving city stakeholders with inspired, efficient buildouts that deliver great experiences for residents and communities alike,” he added.
Atoms Real Estate specializes in developing smart city infrastructure by delivering power-intensive and technically complex projects through its in-house architects, engineers, technology specialists, and construction teams. Under its agreement with Joby, the company will build vertiports designed as next-generation transportation hubs where electric aircraft, autonomous ground vehicles, and ridesharing services will operate together. These facilities are expected to support passenger transfers, aircraft servicing, and last-mile transportation, strengthening the overall vertiport network planned for future urban mobility.
“Thoughtful urban planning can take a decade or more, and making electric flight part of everyday life will require a new generation of transportation hubs connecting aircraft, ground transportation, and communities,” said JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby Aviation.
“As air taxis move closer to early commercial service in the U.S., the right infrastructure becomes increasingly important, not just where aircraft land and charge, but how cities embrace this new form of transportation. Atoms has a vision of building ambitious infrastructure projects that combine technology, operations, and customer experience, making them a natural partner for Joby,” he added.
