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JetBlue Technology Ventures (JTV), the corporate venture capital subsidiary of JetBlue Airways today congratulates its portfolio company Joby Aviation (Joby) on the announcement of its merger with special purpose acquisition company Reinvent Technology Partners (Reinvent). Once finalized, the combined company will be named Joby Aviation, and its common stock is expected to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange for public trade.

Joby is building a fully-electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) passenger aircraft that it intends to operate for commercial use in the U.S. beginning in 2024. The piloted, four-passenger aircraft is faster than existing rotorcraft, flies 150 miles on a single charge, and will be 100 times quieter than existing rotorcraft or small planes during takeoff and landing.

“At JetBlue Technology Ventures, we are excited about the transformative potential of eVTOLs and have always believed that Joby Aviation is the most advanced company in this emerging sector. This next step in Joby’s journey will ultimately deliver sustainable transportation that is safe and affordable for everyone,” said Amy Burr, Managing Director of Operations & Partnerships at JTV.

JTV’s initial 2017 strategic investment in Joby aligns with its commitment to identifying transportation solutions powered by alternative propulsion systems.

“As with all of our investments, JetBlue Technology Ventures’ goal is to better position JetBlue with startup-led innovation that could radically change the travel industry. Travelers today are more conscious of their carbon footprint than ever before, so the reduction of pollution that comes with electrification is highly appealing,” said Raj Singh, Managing Director of Investments at JTV.

“The regional transportation ecosystem is ripe for disruption, and startups like Joby Aviation will revolutionize how people move across urban areas. Joby’s vehicle platform will be the standard to beat. Nearly four years ago, we saw that Joby already was the emerging leader in the eVTOL space, and today’s developments validate our early investment,” said JTV founder Bonny Simi.

The announcement follows Joby’s recent successes in 2020, including becoming the first company to receive an eVTOL certification basis plan with the Federal Aviation Administration and receiving the U.S. Air Force’s first ever airworthiness approval for an eVTOL aircraft.

Additional information about the proposed transaction will be provided in a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed by Reinvent today with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available at www.sec.gov.