Suzuki Motor Corporation and SkyDrive Inc, headquartered in Toyota City, have commenced the production of ‘flying cars’ in Iwata City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. These electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft feature electrification and fully autonomous autopilot systems and are also referred to as Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) or Urban Air Mobility (UAM).
The manufacturing collaboration between Suzuki and SkyDrive was initiated in June 2023, focusing on the production of the Skydrive (SD-05 type) at a Suzuki Group-owned plant in Iwata City through SkyDrive’s subsidiary, Sky Works Inc. The first riveting ceremony occurred on March 6, 2024, marking the beginning of production and symbolizing the collaboration between the two entities. The manufactured aircraft will be used at the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, and will also be available for sale to customers.
SkyDrive, dedicated to delivering safer, more affordable, quieter, and emission-free aerial mobility solutions, has a manufacturing capacity of up to 100 eVTOLs per year at the Suzuki-owned plant. This capacity aims to meet the increasing demand for urban air mobility solutions.
Tomohiro Fukuzawa, CEO of SkyDrive, expressed excitement about partnering with Suzuki, renowned in the automotive industry, emphasizing shared goals of quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction.
Nobuo Kishi, President of Sky Works Inc., highlighted the start of production with Suzuki’s manufacturing experts and their commitment to delivering high-quality eVTOLs efficiently.
Suzuki Motor Corp collaborates in technological development, including weight reduction and electrification, and business development in various markets, particularly India. The partnership with SkyDrive aims to explore and strengthen the business development of eVTOL in the Indian market.
Earlier in January 2024, SkyDrive secured additional funding through a partnership with Suzuki Motor Corporation, accelerating the development and manufacturing of eVTOL aircraft. The companies showcased the 1/5 scaled SkyDrive (SD-05) at the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024, indicating their commitment to exploring eVTOL operations in India.
SkyDrive also signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement with the Department of Science and Technology (DST) to facilitate the implementation of eVTOL aircraft in Gujarat by 2027. Additionally, SkyDrive entered into a technical collaboration with Cyient, an Indian engineering company, for joint product development and engineering services related to eVTOL SkyDrive.