Archer Escalates Air Taxi Rivalry, Claiming Joby Hides China Ties

Archer accuses Joby of undertaking a ‘years-long calculated scheme’ to defraud the U.S. government.

Jack Daleo

Wednesday, March 11, 2026 at 02:30 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Archer’s first full-scale Midnight air taxi prototype lifts off on its inaugural test flight in October 2023. [Credit: Archer Aviation]

Key Takeaways:

Archer Aviation has filed a lawsuit accusing rival Joby Aviation of a "years-long calculated scheme" to defraud the U.S. government, public, and investors by secretly sourcing critical components from China and receiving Chinese government support.
The lawsuit alleges Joby misled regulators about its foreign ties to secure significant U.S. government contracts, including $131 million from the Air Force, and circumvented U.S. tariffs by mislabeling Chinese imports.
Archer claims Joby's alleged deception distorted the competitive landscape, inflicted economic injury, and gravely endangers national security, marking the latest development in an ongoing legal battle between the two leading eVTOL air taxi manufacturers.

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A protracted legal dispute between two leading U.S. manufacturers of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxis took another turn this week, with one accusing the other of a “years-long calculated scheme” to defraud the U.S. government, public, and investors and competitors.

Archer Aviation on Monday accused rival Joby Aviation of “secretly” sourcing critical components such as batteries from China and receiving Chinese government support. In doing so, Archer claims, Joby won government partnerships—including $131 million in U.S. Air Force contracts—that may have otherwise fallen through due to scrutiny over its foreign ties. Archer further alleges that Joby circumvented U.S. tariffs by mislabeling imports from China.