Archer Aviation accuses rival Joby of illegal China ties
Archer Aviation filed a federal countersuit alleging Joby Aviation hid Chinese ties for an advantage. The filing claims Joby evaded tariffs on materials.
The legal battle between electric air-taxi developers intensified on Monday as Archer Aviation Inc. filed a countersuit against its primary competitor, Joby Aviation, Inc.. In the federal court filing, Archer alleges that Joby defrauded the government of the United States and concealed extensive ties to China to gain an unfair advantage in the emerging urban air mobility market.
Archer claims that Joby or its agents misclassified thousands of pounds of aircraft materials sourced from China as consumer goods. This maneuver was allegedly intended to bypass U.S. tariffs and avoid oversight regarding foreign influence. The countersuit further suggests that Joby received undisclosed financial benefits and grants from the Chinese government, creating what Archer describes as a profound dependency on foreign interests.
