Toyota will invest $500m in Joby Aviation, a company developing electric air taxis for commercial passenger service.

The investment will fund the certification and commercial production of the air taxi, and will bring Toyota's total investment in Joby to $894m as the car giant seeks to create a major foothold in a nascent green transport revolution.

Joby recently rolled its third aircraft off its pilot production line in California and is breaking ground on an expanded facility that will more than double the company's manufacturing footprint.

"With this additional investment, we are excited to see Joby certify their aircraft and shift to commercial production," said Tetsuo "Ted" Ogawa, who signed the agreement as the operating officer on behalf of Toyota. "We share Joby's view that sustainable flight will be central to alleviating today's persistent mobility challenges."

Toyota's relationship with Joby began through an initial investment made by Toyota Ventures, the early-stage venture capital arm of Toyota that explores and identifies disruptive technologies and companies for investment opportunities and provides support for portfolio companies.

However, as the company pushes ahead with electric flight, on the ground the weakening demand for EVs has made the company delay the start date for EV manufacturing in the US and has joined other makes including Ford and Volvo in scaling back EV ambitions.

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