I toured an electric Uber ‘air taxi’ that plans to launch in New York and Los Angeles as soon as 2025. See inside.

• Joby Aviation plans to launch commercial “air taxis” in New York City and Los Angeles in 2025.
• Joby’s eVTOLs offer a quieter, zero-emissions alternative to cars and helicopters.
• The company has backing from from Toyota, Uber, and Delta Air Lines.

Electric aircraft manufacturer Joby Aviation plans to launch commercial “air taxis” in New York City and Los Angeles by late 2025 as a more efficient alternative to driving or taking the train.

Joby says its electric takeoff and landing vehicle, or eVTOL, would shuttle people between airports and city centers for the price of a cab and allow customers to cut their travel time from hours to just minutes by avoiding congestion.

The company expects its eVTOLs to receive a warm welcome from city residents sick of hearing loud helicopters overhead.

While the thought of flying taxis sounds very Jetsons — it’s no pipe dream.

Joby has secured hundreds of millions of dollars of investments from Toyota, Delta Air Lines, and Uber, with which it has a strategic partnership to launch its commercial air taxi service by 2025 (pending regulatory approval).