Japanese carmaker Suzuki has announced a partnership with flying car developer SkyDrive to build flying cars in Japan. The joint venture plans to begin production in the spring of 2024 at Suzuki Group’s existing facility in Shizuoka Prefecture. SkyDrive was founded in 2018 by the volunteer organisation CARTIVATOR, which includes aviation and drone engineers, and has received funding from high-profile companies such as NEC, Suzuki and Kansai Electric Power.
Suzuki and SkyDrive’s main goal is to provide “air taxi” services for the Osaka World Expo in 2025. As part of its preparations, SkyDrive is now conducting joint research with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The alliance aims to pool resources to ensure the effective use of air taxi services during the Expo.
SkyDrive unveiled its personal flying car model, the SD-05, in April this year, with a price tag of $1.5 million. The SD-05 is equipped with engines and propellers that allow it to take off and land vertically. It has a range of 10 kilometers and a top speed of 100 kilometres per hour. The vehicle can carry two people at a time, and deliveries to individual consumers are expected to begin after 2025.
In March, Suzuki and SkyDrive also agreed to work on the research, development, and commercialization of electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles (eVTOLs). This partnership demonstrates their commitment to exploring and developing the possibilities of eVTOL technology.
The collaboration between Suzuki and SkyDrive is an exciting venture in the field of flying cars and urban air transport. They hope to contribute to the future of transportation by combining Suzuki’s industrial expertise with SkyDrive’s creative technology. The companies are actively seeking to realise realistic and sustainable air mobility solutions through their shared vision.
