JOBY Stock Pops 8% On US Infrastructure Push Ahead Of Commercial Operations Launch - The partners plan to build vertiports, which are special landing pads and small stations where the air taxis take off, land, charge their batteries, and connect passengers to cars or rideshares. - They will initially concentrate on Florida, New York, Texas, and California. - The partnership announcement comes as the company gears up for commercial operations later this year. Shares of Joby Aviation (JOBY) climbed more than 8% on Tuesday after the electric air taxi developer announced a strategic partnership with Atoms to acquire and develop vertiports across key U.S. markets. Atoms, the industrial AI and infrastructure firm founded by former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick, and Joby will initially concentrate on Florida, New York, Texas, and California. These align with markets where Joby is preparing early operations under the White House-backed eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP). The eIPP is a special U.S. government program that lets companies start limited real-world flights in selected places sooner, before finishing the long full-approval process. Early operations under the program are expected later in 2026 in priority states, providing a pathway for passenger service. Partnership Details The partners plan to build vertiports, which are special landing pads and small stations where the air taxis take off, land, charge their batteries, and connect passengers to cars or rideshares. They will support passenger links, aircraft servicing, and last-mile ground transport. “Smart cities require innovative real estate and infrastructure development,” said Travis Kalanick, Atoms founder and CEO. “Designing and deploying a new asset class to support them is critical.” Approaching Commercial Launch Joby’s aircraft—quiet, battery-powered eVTOLs that take off and land straight up like helicopters but fly more efficiently—are nearing commercial readiness. The company has flown its first FAA-conforming aircraft and entered the