1 eVTOL STock to Buy Before the First Paying Passenger Takes Off

If you want to buy eVTOL stocks before the first paying passenger is put into the air, which could theoretically send these speculative stocks soaring to new heights, you might not have a lot of time.

Thanks to the White House-backed eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP), electric air taxis are already being tested in major cities across the U.S., with paying passengers potentially coming next. And one company in particular, Joby Aviation (NYSE: JOBY), looks especially well-positioned to put those passengers in the air first.

Here's why I would consider buying Joby now before those passengers take off.

Image source: Joby Aviation.

Joby isn't twiddling its thumbs

Joby Aviation is manufacturing electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. These aircraft are designed to shuttle four passengers plus a pilot over congested city streets, aiming to replace long car rides in traffic with a shorter flight.

Although Joby doesn't have regulatory approval to fly passengers commercially, it has been making remarkable progress. It has logged more than 50,000 miles across its fleet; it has an FAA-conforming aircraft flying in preparation for certification testing; and it has demonstrated its aircraft in the real world on routes in Texas, California, and New York.

All this comes as Joby works through the fifth and final stage of the FAA type certification, which it needs for widespread commercial operations. Thanks in part to the eIPP, however, Joby could begin carrying paying passengers before receiving full FAA type certification. In fact, management is targeting its first passengers before the end of 2026, though there's no guarantee it will hit that deadline.

Why I would buy Joby now

Here's what I find especially interesting about Joby: It technically already has paying customers. They're not flying on eVTOLs, but they are using an existing air transportation service, one that Joby manages.

In 2025, Joby acquired Blade Air Mobility's passenger transportation business, which arranges helicopter flights. In the second quarter of 2026, Blade generated about $36 million in revenue, accounting for most of Joby's roughly $39 million in revenue for the quarter.

That revenue is not insignificant, but I find Blade fascinating for Joby for another reason: Not only does it give Joby a ready-made market for its electric aircraft, but it also gives Joby data. This is helping Joby understand which routes are most used, what customers are willing to pay, and where to deploy its aircraft first, even before it has that much-needed FAA type certification.

This, combined with Joby's regulatory process, is why I would consider buying Joby. The stock isn't without risks, and there's no guarantee people will use its eVTOL services as much as it wants. But over time, I think this stock has juice: Aggressive growth stock investors might want to consider it now, before Joby's first paying passengers take flight and that watershed moment is behind us.

Steven Porrello has positions in Joby Aviation. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.