In a high-stakes legal confrontation, Joby Aviation has filed a lawsuit against its competitor, Archer Aviation, alleging the theft of trade secrets. The complaint, made public on Thursday, was lodged in a California state court in Santa Cruz. Joby claims that Archer hired a former Joby employee, George Kivork, who allegedly took confidential information regarding business strategies, partnership terms, and aircraft specifications to his new employer. Joby asserts that this information was used by Archer in an attempt to undermine a contract with a real-estate developer. Archer has denied these allegations, stating that no such deal with the developer exists and that Kivork did not bring any confidential information from Joby. Eric Lentell, Archer’s chief legal and strategy officer, criticized the lawsuit as an attempt to gain a competitive edge through litigation rather than fair competition. Joby, backed by Toyota, is a prominent player in the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft market, aiming to revolutionize urban transportation with sustainable solutions. The lawsuit seeks unspecified monetary damages and a court order to prevent Archer from misusing Joby’s trade secrets. This legal battle underscores the intense competition in the burgeoning eVTOL industry as companies race to bring their innovative vehicles to market.