Japanese automaker Suzuki has announced a strategic collaboration with SkyDrive, a leading eVTOL aircraft manufacturer, to jointly develop and manufacture electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, a.k.a Flying Cars. The partnership aims to utilise Suzuki Group’s production facility in central Japan and commence production by spring of next year.
SkyDrive, headquartered in Toyota City, Japan, confirmed the partnership at the Paris Air Show 2023. The agreement signifies a significant step forward in the pursuit of aerial mobility solutions and marks Suzuki’s venture into the emerging field of “flying cars.”
Under the agreement, SkyDrive will establish a wholly owned subsidiary dedicated to the manufacturing of their eVTOL aircraft, named “SKYDRIVE.” Suzuki will provide support in talent acquisition and overall preparations for production. The collaboration capitalises on Suzuki’s expertise in mass production and manufacturing efficiency.
SkyDrive boasts prominent shareholders, including Itochu Corp, NEC Corp, and Eneos Holdings Inc, a unit of an energy company. Founded in 2018, the company has been actively developing a compact, two-seater electric-powered flying car, with plans for full-scale production in the near future.
The joint statement released by Suzuki and SkyDrive mentioned the exploration of new markets, with particular attention to India, “where Suzuki,” according to Arab News, “holds approximately half of the automotive market share. Suzuki recently announced a substantial investment of $1.37 billion in its Indian factory to facilitate the production of electric vehicles and batteries.”
Specific details regarding the investment and production timeline were not disclosed in the statement. However, the collaboration highlights the shared vision of both companies in advancing electric-powered air mobility.
The partnership aligns with SkyDrive’s long-term goal of launching a “flying car” service in Osaka by 2025, coinciding with the World Expo hosted by the Japanese city.
The concept of “Flying Cars” isn’t new to this partnership, as we reported a few years ago that Uber and NASA joined forces to develop these futuristic vehicles. However, since then, no further updates have been provided regarding their collaborative efforts and the planned launch in 2020.
