It’s not science fiction anymore: New York City could, in the near future, see air taxis buzzing around the skies.

Joby Aviation raised $500 million from Toyota, the largest single round of funding for a flying taxi startup in years.

Californian startup Joby Aviation has received a $500 million investment from the Japanese automotive group Toyota. The money will help with the certification and commercial production of Joby's electric flying taxi.

Auto giant Toyota is investing another $500 million into Joby, which pioneered the first test flight of an air taxi over the skies of New York City.The Latest Tech News, Delivered to Your Inbox

Japanese auto giant Toyota Motor is investing $500 million in Joby Aviation to support the U.S. electric air taxi company’s launch of commercial passenger services, which are slated to begin as soon as next year.

Toyota has said it will invest $500mn and raise its stake in Joby Aviation as the carmaker boosts its backing for the air taxi start-up that aims to launch commercial services as soon as next year. The investment from the Japanese company,

As part of the investment, Toyota plans to support Joby with commercial manufacturing and certification support.

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While we’re still waiting for those flying cars, Toyota is betting high and hard on electric air taxis. The automaker just earmarked another $500 million for Joby Aviation, which increases Toyota’s total support (so far) to nearly 900 million dollars.

Robotaxis aren’t the only place where the basic concept of “pay someone with a vehicle to take me a short distance” is undergoing some high-tech permutations. There’s also the matter of air taxis: small vehicles that can take you somewhere local — and where,