Nöbetçi Eczaneler
The friendly tone often seen between eVTOL OEMs on social media, full of “let’s grow the market together” messaging, appears to be cracking. The latest sign: Joby Aviation has filed a lawsuit accusing rival Archer Aviation of corporate espionage, claiming that Archer used stolen internal information to outmaneuver Joby on a partnership deal with a real estate developer.
Just moments after the lawsuit surfaced, Archer CEO Adam Goldstein responded publicly, saying:
“Let me be clear, Archer has no deal with this developer. Joby’s accusations are fantasy. I get why Joby is frustrated… they’ve watched us win key deals time and time again. First, it was Overair, then the Olympics, then the Lilium patents, and then the Hawthorne Airport. Suing us for a deal that we never even bid on is wild. I guess desperation really clouds judgment.”
With tensions rising, the competitive atmosphere in the eVTOL world, once marketed as collaborative, now looks more like a quiet cold war.
What Joby Claims
In a lawsuit filed in California Superior Court (Santa Cruz), Joby alleges the following:
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A former Joby employee, George Kivork, who served as the U.S. state and local policy lead,
downloaded dozens of internal files and forwarded some to his personal email just two days before resigning in July. -
Kivork then joined Archer Aviation, which had reportedly recruited him.
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By August, Joby claims a long-time partner told them Archer had approached with a “more lucrative deal”, suggesting that the competitor had access to Joby’s confidential terms.
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Joby argues that these internal details gave Archer an unfair advantage during negotiations.
The company says the partner even attempted to terminate their agreement due to a confidentiality breach.
Joby describes the situation as:
“Corporate espionage, planned and premeditated.”
The company also claims Kivork refused to return the files after the internal investigation.
Archer’s Response
Archer strongly denied the accusations, calling the case “baseless litigation” intended to slow down a leading competitor.
Archer’s Chief Legal & Strategy Officer Eric Lentell stated:
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The complaint does not identify a single specific trade secret,
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The employee in question was non-technical,
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Archer has strict onboarding procedures to prevent misuse of proprietary information.
A hearing is currently scheduled for March 20, 2026.
Why This Matters
The lawsuit arrives at a critical moment for the eVTOL world:
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Companies are racing toward FAA certification for commercial flights.
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A newly established U.S. pilot program for eVTOLs under the Trump administration is accelerating development.
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Major players, including Amazon-backed Beta Technologies, are entering the public markets.
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Joby and Archer stocks have been climbing, with Joby up over 100% year-over-year.
The intensity is rising, and so are the stakes.
This is not the first legal battle in the industry. In 2023, Archer settled a high-profile dispute with Boeing-owned Wisk Aero over alleged trade secret theft, eventually naming Wisk its autonomous tech partner.
The Bottom Line
What once looked like a united front in creating the future of air taxis is now showing its fault lines. While the public narrative focuses on collaboration and ecosystem-building, the reality behind the scenes appears far more competitive.
The eVTOL race is no longer just about certification; it’s about survival, territory, and control.