Archer Aviation has filed a claim against rival eVTOL developer Joby Aviation, alleging Joby has concealed Chinese supply chains and misled US regulators over the amount of US-derived technology in the Joby S4 eVTOL.
In November 2025, Joby filed a lawsuit against Archer, alleging that Archer used confidential information from a former Joby employee, including details of infrastructure strategies for vertiport and airport operations, business and regulatory strategies and technical information.
On Monday 9th March Archer launched a counter claim, lodged in the US District Court for the Northern District of California, alleging that Joby has falsely presented itself as a domestically rooted aerospace manufacturer while relying on Chinese suppliers and subsidiaries for critical aircraft components.
The suit claims Joby labelled materials from China as “consumer goods” to bypass tariffs and foreign-influence monitoring, a charge that Joby has disputed.
(Image: Joby)