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An early Joby Aviation backer might soon be its biggest distributor in Saudi Arabia | TechCrunch

Jun 03, 2025 - techcrunch.com
Joby Aviation has reached a tentative agreement with Saudi Arabian conglomerate Abdul Latif Jameel (ALJ) to distribute up to 200 electric aircraft valued at approximately $1 billion. This partnership, if finalized, could expedite Joby's efforts to monetize its electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles in Saudi Arabia. The two companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore a distribution agreement, marking one of the first instances of an eVTOL startup securing a distributor partner. ALJ's deep ties with Toyota and its extensive infrastructure for sales, support, pilot training, and maintenance make it an ideal partner for Joby. The collaboration aligns with Joby's strategy to expand beyond initial markets by leveraging local partners to facilitate sales and support in new geographies.

Despite the promising partnership in Saudi Arabia, Joby plans to launch its services in Dubai next year, followed by the U.S. market. This deal comes amid increased cooperation between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia in AI, technology infrastructure, and energy sectors. The collaboration with ALJ is part of Joby's broader strategy to deepen its market reach and monetize its technology more rapidly. The partnership is also supported by the backdrop of significant investments in transformative technologies by both American and Saudi entities.

Key takeaways:

  • Joby Aviation has reached a tentative deal with Abdul Latif Jameel to distribute up to 200 electric aircraft in Saudi Arabia, valued at about $1 billion.
  • The partnership with ALJ could provide Joby with a fast path to monetizing its electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles in Saudi Arabia.
  • ALJ's deep relationship with Toyota and its infrastructure for sales, support, pilot training, and maintenance make it an ideal partner for Joby.
  • Joby's go-to-market strategy includes launching in Dubai next year, with the U.S. market to follow, and finding local partners to help sell and support in other geographies.
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