🎯 The Big Picture
Powertrain chief Jon Wagner explains why integration beats invention Elan Head is senior editor at The Air Current, a subscription-based aviation news service. Joby Aviation's S4 is a six-rotor electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The design of its powertrain was led by Jon Wagner [lower right photo]. When JoeBen Bevirt founded the company now known as Joby Aviation in 2009, electric aircraft were on few people’s minds. Tesla’s first electric vehicle, the Roadster, had arrived
📖 What Happened
on the market just one year earlier, and it was not yet evident that EVs would transform the automotive industry, let alone aviation. But Bevirt was convinced that he could revolutionize urban transportation with electric air taxis, also known as electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOLs for short). In a departure from many conventional aircraft manufacturers, Bevirt embraced a rapid, iterative, design process that Joby refers to as “design, build, and test.” According to Jon Wagner, who spent five years as senior director of battery engineering for Tesla before joining Joby in 2017, “the original concept was that the more times you go through the process, each time you can identify improvements or problems that need to be addressed. And if you have a very good system for go
💰 By the Numbers
| 📊 Metric | 💡 Context |
|---|---|
| 90 percent | Powertrain chief Jon Wagner explains why integration beats invention Elan Head i... |
🎤 Highlights
• Where the vertical integration that Joby has developed creates an advantage for us is actually exactly in manufacturabil
• The design of its powertrain was led by Jon Wagner [lower right photo].
• When JoeBen Bevirt founded the company now known as Joby Aviation in 2009, electric aircraft were on few people’s minds.
• With Joby’s aircraft now undergoing certification with the U.
🚀 Why It Matters
This development represents a significant moment in the AI landscape. As the technology continues to evolve rapidly, such advancements shape how organizations approach innovation, competitive strategy, and digital transformation. The implications extend beyond the immediate technical achievement to influence broader industry trends and market dynamics.
⚡ The Bottom Line
Joby Aviation Is Pushing the Boundaries of Electric Aviation — a notable development highlighting AI's continued momentum and growing impact across industries.
📰 Source: IEEE Spectrum AI 🔗